How to use the command hg branch (with examples)
Mercurial is a distributed version control system that allows users to create and manage branches. The hg branch command is used to either create a new branch or show the name of the currently active branch.
Use case 1: Show the name of the currently active branch
Code:
hg branch
Motivation:
The motivation for using this example is to quickly determine the name of the currently active branch in a Mercurial repository. This can be useful when working with multiple branches and needing to identify the one that is currently active.
Explanation:
The hg branch command with no arguments simply displays the name of the currently active branch in the repository. It does not alter the branch in any way, only provides information.
Example output:
default
In this example, the command is executed and it returns “default” as the name of the currently active branch. This indicates that the default branch is currently active in the repository.
Use case 2: Create a new branch for the next commit
Code:
hg branch branch_name
Motivation:
The motivation for using this example is to create a new branch in a Mercurial repository that will be used for the next commit. This is useful when working on a new feature or bug fix that should be isolated from the main branch until it is ready for integration.
Explanation:
The hg branch command with an argument allows you to create a new branch with the specified name. When used in conjunction with a commit, this sets the branch as the active one for the next commit.
Example output:
No output is generated when creating a new branch using the hg branch command. To confirm that the branch was successfully created, the hg branch command without any arguments can be executed to display the name of the currently active branch, which should match the branch name provided when creating it.
Conclusion:
The hg branch command is a versatile tool in the Mercurial version control system that allows users to create and manage branches. Whether you need to quickly see the name of the currently active branch or create a new branch for the next commit, the hg branch command has you covered.
