branchout

create new git branches from the right source branch inside pi, without memorizing branch names.

why install it

• /branchout opens a branch picker, asks for a new branch name, and creates it from the selected source.
• direct forms still work for fast keyboard-driven workflows.
• every git operation is explicit, argv-only, and runs in pi's current working directory.
• no telemetry, daemon, shell interpolation, force operations, stashing, rebasing, merging, or automatic commits.

install

pi install npm:branchout

then run pi in any git repository and use /branchout.

commands

command	behavior
/branchout	pick a local source branch, enter a new branch name, and create it from the updated source
/branchout new-branch	create new-branch from main
/branchout -b source-branch new-branch	create new-branch from source-branch

what it runs

/branchout validates branch names with git check-ref-format --branch, then runs:

git fetch origin <source>
git checkout <source>
git pull --ff-only origin <source>
git checkout -b <new> <source>

All git commands are executed with argv arrays in pi's current working directory. No shell interpolation, stashing, resetting, rebasing, merging, force operations, automatic commits, telemetry, or background service.

behavior notes

• bare /branchout lists local branches only.
• main appears first when present; other branches stay recent-first.
• cancelling the picker or input prompt does not mutate git state.
• /branchout uses --ff-only; divergent source updates fail instead of merging.
• repositories without origin fail normally because the command fetches and pulls from origin.
• dirty worktrees are left to git: compatible edits may carry across; conflicting checkouts fail.

update / remove

pi update npm:branchout
pi remove npm:branchout

pi package gallery

branchout is published as a pi package with the pi-package keyword and a pi.extensions manifest, so it is discoverable through the pi package gallery after npm indexing.

troubleshooting

see docs/troubleshooting.md.

development

see docs/development.md.

security

see SECURITY.md and docs/security-model.md.