Succinct way to create a tracking branch with Git

Question

Today I had to work with a remote branch called origin/}__test_syntax_error_in_simpack_settings. I wanted to create a tracking branch for it.

I had to type:

git branch }__test_syntax_error_in_simpack_settings origin/}__test_syntax_error_in_simpack_settings

I didn't have autocompletion on the first argument, only on the second. I don't like typing. Is there a faster way to do this? The main barrier is having to type the name of the new local tracking branch. Is there a way to tell Git, "create a tracking branch with the same name as origin/whatever?"

Answer 1

git checkout -t -b whatever origin/whatever

or short

git checkout -t origin/whatever

Something to read: http://git-scm.com/docs/git-checkout

Answer 2

I'd do this in bash:

git branch {,origin/}}__test_syntax_error_in_simpack_settings

Sidenote: you seem to have very unusual branch names that might create problems in shells unless properly escaped. Consider renaming your branches, to save yourself some typing and problems the easy way (the lowhanging fruit :))