Pushing new branches to remote in Git - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - Pushing new branches to remote

Create new branch locally

↓

Switch to new branch

↓

Make changes and commit

↓

Push branch to remote

↓

Remote branch created

↓

Branch available for others

This flow shows how you create a new branch locally, commit changes, then push it to the remote repository so others can access it.

Execution Sample

Git

git checkout -b feature
# make changes
git add .
git commit -m "Add feature"
git push -u origin feature

Create and switch to a new branch 'feature', commit changes, then push it to remote and set upstream tracking.

Process Table

Step	Command	Action	Result
1	git checkout -b feature	Create and switch to branch 'feature'	Local branch 'feature' created and checked out
2	git add .	Stage all changes	Changes staged for commit
3	git commit -m "Add feature"	Commit staged changes	New commit added to 'feature' branch
4	git push -u origin feature	Push branch to remote and set upstream	Remote branch 'feature' created and linked
5		End of process	Branch 'feature' is now available on remote

💡 After step 4, the new branch exists on remote and is tracked locally

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After 1	After 2	After 3	After 4	Final
Current Branch	main	feature	feature	feature	feature	feature
Staged Changes	none	none	all changes staged	none	none	none
Commits on feature	0	0	0	1	1	1
Remote Branches	origin/main	origin/main	origin/main	origin/main	origin/main + origin/feature	origin/main + origin/feature

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why do we use '-u' in 'git push -u origin feature'?

The '-u' option sets the upstream tracking so future 'git push' or 'git pull' commands know which remote branch to use automatically, as shown in step 4 of the execution_table.

What happens if you push a branch that already exists on remote?

If the branch exists, git will update it with your commits. In this example, since 'feature' is new, the remote branch is created (step 4).

Why do we need to commit before pushing?

Only committed changes are pushed. Staging (step 2) prepares changes, committing (step 3) saves them in the branch, then pushing (step 4) sends them to remote.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, what is the result after step 1?

A Changes staged for commit

B Remote branch 'feature' created

C Local branch 'feature' created and checked out

D New commit added to 'feature' branch

💡 Hint

Check the 'Result' column for step 1 in the execution_table

At which step is the remote branch 'feature' created?

A Step 2

B Step 4

C Step 3

D Step 5

💡 Hint

Look for 'Remote branch created' in the 'Action' column of execution_table

If you omit '-u' in 'git push origin feature', what changes in the process?

A Upstream tracking won't be set automatically

B The remote branch won't be created

C The branch won't be pushed to remote

D You cannot commit changes

💡 Hint

Refer to key_moments about the purpose of '-u' option

Concept Snapshot

git checkout -b <branch>  # create and switch to new branch
git add .                   # stage changes
git commit -m "msg"       # commit changes
git push -u origin <branch> # push new branch and set upstream

'-u' sets tracking so future pushes/pulls are easier.

Full Transcript

This lesson shows how to push a new branch to a remote git repository. First, you create and switch to a new branch locally using 'git checkout -b feature'. Then you stage your changes with 'git add .' and commit them with 'git commit -m "Add feature"'. Finally, you push the branch to the remote repository with 'git push -u origin feature'. The '-u' option sets upstream tracking, linking your local branch to the remote one for easier future pushes and pulls. After pushing, the new branch is available on the remote server for others to use.

Practice

1. What is the correct command to push a new branch named feature1 to the remote repository?

easy

A. git push origin new feature1

B. git push origin feature1

C. git push new feature1

D. git push feature1 origin

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the git push syntax

   The correct syntax to push a branch is git push origin <branch-name>.

2. Step 2: Apply the branch name

   Replace <branch-name> with feature1, resulting in git push origin feature1.

3. Final Answer:

   git push origin feature1 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Push new branch = git push origin branch-name [OK]

Hint: Use 'git push origin branch-name' to push new branches [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping origin and branch name order
• Adding extra words like 'new'
• Forgetting to specify the remote 'origin'

2. Which of the following commands correctly pushes a new branch dev to the remote named origin?

easy

A. git push origin/dev

B. git push origin:dev

C. git push dev origin

D. git push origin dev

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the correct push syntax

   The command to push a branch is git push origin <branch-name>.

2. Step 2: Match the branch and remote

   Here, origin is the remote and dev is the branch, so git push origin dev is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   git push origin dev -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Push syntax = git push origin branch [OK]

Hint: Remember: remote first, then branch name [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using colon instead of space between remote and branch
• Swapping remote and branch order
• Using slash notation incorrectly

3. Given the commands:

git checkout -b featureX
# make some changes
git add .
git commit -m "Add featureX"
git push origin featureX

What will be the result of the last command?

medium

A. The new branch featureX is created and pushed to the remote repository.

B. An error because the branch featureX does not exist locally.

C. Nothing happens because the branch is not checked out.

D. The changes are pushed but the branch is not created remotely.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze branch creation and commit

   The command git checkout -b featureX creates and switches to the new branch featureX. Then changes are added and committed.

2. Step 2: Understand the push effect

   git push origin featureX pushes the new branch featureX to the remote, creating it there.

3. Final Answer:

   The new branch featureX is created and pushed to the remote repository. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Push new branch after commit = branch created remotely [OK]

Hint: Push after commit creates branch remotely [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming branch must exist remotely before push
• Forgetting to commit before pushing
• Thinking push only updates existing branches

4. You run git push origin new-feature but get an error: error: src refspec new-feature does not match any. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You forgot to create or checkout the branch new-feature locally.

B. The remote repository origin does not exist.

C. You have uncommitted changes in your working directory.

D. You need to use git push -u origin new-feature instead.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the error message

   The error means Git cannot find a local branch named new-feature to push.

2. Step 2: Identify the cause

   This usually happens if the branch was never created or checked out locally before pushing.

3. Final Answer:

   You forgot to create or checkout the branch new-feature locally. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Branch must exist locally before push [OK]

Hint: Create or checkout branch before pushing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming push creates branch locally
• Ignoring error and retrying same command
• Confusing remote existence with local branch

5. You have a local branch release with new commits. You want to push it to remote origin and set it to track the remote branch. Which command should you use?

hard

A. git push origin release

B. git push origin -u release

C. git push -u origin release

D. git push --set-upstream release origin

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand tracking branches

   To set the local branch to track the remote branch, use the -u or --set-upstream option with git push.

2. Step 2: Apply correct syntax

   The correct syntax is git push -u origin release which pushes and sets upstream tracking.

3. Final Answer:

   git push -u origin release -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use -u to set upstream tracking [OK]

Hint: Use 'git push -u origin branch' to set tracking [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Placing -u after remote and branch incorrectly
• Using --set-upstream with wrong argument order
• Forgetting to set upstream and needing manual tracking