Add new 'git switch' command

[Paebbels]

Git has a new command called switch to change branches instead of using checkout.

Please add this command to the book.

---

Related to:

• What new Git features should (or should not) be added to the book? #1084

[HonkingGoose]

Issue #1441 also talks about git switch.

---

@ben Do you want a pull request from me to include git switch? And if so, do you want a NOTE, or full section?

You said a while back #1441 (comment):

My recommendation is that while there's a non-trivial chance that our readers will be running a version of Git that doesn't include switch, we add a NOTE section saying "there's an easier way of doing this." When it's reasonably certain that everybody can use the new commands, that's when we can remove references to git checkout -- .

These commands were introduced in Git 2.27, but my MacOS system (the latest 10.5.5) comes bundled with Git 2.24.3, so we're not there yet. Most people will update Git, but some will not, and we don't want them to have a super frustrating experience as they're trying to learn.

[Paebbels]

I think for now, git switch should be mentioned as

• an alternative to git checkout <ref> --, OR
• as the current way to change branches, but add a box how to change branches in older versions.

When Git 2.27+ is bundled with most common distributions (e.g. Debian stable), the usage of git checkout can be degraded to a foot note or so.

[ben]

Do you want a pull request from me to include git switch?

Sure! Probably just a note for now. We can rewrite to recommend switch first and checkout as a note when MacOS and (apparently) Debian stable have newer versions.

[HonkingGoose]

Hi @ben, I made a new issue to track the pending rewrite that we'll need to do once git switch is available on MacOS and Debian stable: #1524, seeing as you'll close this issue when you merge pull #1523. 😄