Intro to git lesson: git fetch branches from remote

[mwhosek]

In 2023 version of demo, I used "git pull origin newBranch" to pull down a branch newly created on the remote to the local repo. However, this is really dangerous because if the new remote branch has any changes, then those changes will be merged into the local branch that the user does the "git pull" command from! I missed this before because I didn't have any changes on the new remote branch before pulling it down.

The safer way to do this is to use "git fetch origin" on the local, and then you can git checkout to switch into it as normal. Be sure to fix and test before next year!!!

[semaphoreP]

My understanding is that git pull = git fetch + git merge so that is definitely strange.

[mwhosek]

Yes, you're right, never mind my earlier confusion. I think using git fetch is the way to go in the future.