Git Push Origin
Push a local branch to origin to initialize it on the remote (GitHub).
When to Use
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New branch needs to exist on GitHub
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First push of a local branch
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Setting up remote tracking
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Any request to "push branch to origin" or "init branch on GitHub"
Workflow
- Check Current State
git status git branch --show-current git remote -v
- Push with Upstream Tracking
First push (initialize on origin):
git push -u origin <branch-name>
Or using the current branch:
git push -u origin HEAD
- Verify Remote Branch
git branch -vv git log --oneline --graph --decorate -5
Common Scenarios
Push current branch for the first time:
git push -u origin HEAD
Push specific branch:
git push -u origin feature/my-feature
Push after making commits:
git add . git commit -m "feat: initial implementation" git push -u origin HEAD
What -u (Upstream) Does
The -u flag sets up tracking between local and remote branch:
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Future pushes can use just git push
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Future pulls can use just git pull
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Shows tracking info in git branch -vv
Best Practices
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Always use -u on first push to set upstream
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Push after initial commit(s) to back up work
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Verify branch appears on GitHub
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Ensure you're on the correct branch before pushing