Git: Check out a branch from a list of recently checked out branches/tags/commits

git-recentco

#!/usr/bin/env bash

# Source:   https://gist.github.com/fritz-c/c1e528b09bc1c0827a3c
# Original: https://gist.github.com/jordan-brough/48e2803c0ffa6dc2e0bd

# Download this script as "git-recentco" (no extension), chmod it to be executable and put it in your
# path somewhere (e.g. /usr/bin). You can then use it via `git recentco` from inside any git repo.

# Example:
#
# $ git recentco -n 5
# 1) master
# 2) stable
# 3) develop
# 4) some-cool-feature
# 5) feature/improve-everything
# Choose a branch: 3
# Switched to branch 'develop'

usage()
{
  echo "usage: git recentco [-n lines]"
}

while getopts "hn:" opt; do
  case $opt in
    h)
      usage
      exit 1
      ;;
    n)
      NUM=$OPTARG
      ;;
    \?)
      usage
      exit 1
      ;;
  esac
done

NUM=${NUM-10} # default to 10 lines

# This: `awk ' !x[$0]++'` removes duplicates.  See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11532157
UNIQUE_BRANCHES=$(git reflog | egrep -io "moving from ([^[:space:]]+)" | awk '{ print $3 }' | awk ' !x[$0]++')

# Exclude branches that don't exist locally
BRANCH_CHOICES=( $(echo "$UNIQUE_BRANCHES" | while read line; do
  git rev-parse --verify "$line" &>/dev/null && echo "$line"
done | head -n "$NUM") )

PS3="Choose a branch: "
select d in "${BRANCH_CHOICES[@]}"; do test -n "$d" && break; echo ">>> Invalid Selection"; done

git checkout "$d"

What's the difference between this one and the original?

@aalvarado All the code from
# Exclude branches that don't exist locally onward.
The original just lists them; this filters down to only local branches and offers the choice to check them out.

ah great, thank you

Thanks @fritz-c! I've updated my script to incorporate that idea and I've listed you as a contributor in the script.
Lmk if you have any thoughts/suggestions.

@fritz-c Would you be okay with officially releasing your contribution to the script as open-source? I've asked @jordan-brough separately to release it under the MIT license.

@cool-RR yes, I’m fine with making it open source. I don’t need credit or anything.

@jordan-brough Just noticed your comment a couple days late 😅 I checked out your updated script and it looks great. Thank you for including me in the contributors.