Tiger Oakes

How to use git branch aliases with Mozilla Central

Even if a default branch has an odd name, its easy to `git checkout main`.

I just set up Mozilla Central with a git wrapper so I can contribute to the main Gecko codebase using Git. It works great, but the default branch has an unusual name compared to what I’m used to.

Terminal window
> git branch
branches/default/tip
bug1602126

You can create symbolic references in Git, so that the default branch has a name you’re used to.

Terminal window
> git symbolic-ref refs/heads/main refs/heads/branches/default/tip


> git branch
branches/default/tip
bug1602126
main -> branches/default/tip


> git checkout main
Switched to branch 'main'


> git status
On branch branches/default/tip

/c/Code/mozilla/gecko> git checkout main