"simple" vs "current" push.default in git for decentralized workflow

GitGit PushGit Config

Git Problem Overview


Functionally speaking, in a decentralized workflow, I don't see the difference between simple and current options for push.default config setting.

current will push the current branch to an identically named branch on the specified remote. simple will effectively do the same thing as well for both the tracked and any untracked remotes for the current branch (it enforces identical branch names in both cases).

Can someone explain any important differences between the two for decentralized workflows that I am missing?

Git Solutions


Solution 1 - Git

The difference is that with simple, git push (without passing a refspec) will fail if the current branch isn't tracking a remote upstream branch (even if a branch with the same name exists on the remote):

$ git checkout -b foo
Switched to a new branch 'foo'

$ git config push.default simple
$ git push
fatal: The current branch foo has no upstream branch.
To push the current branch and set the remote as upstream, use

    git push --set-upstream origin foo

On the other hand, current doesn't care about whether or not the current branch tracks an upstream, it just wants to push to any branch that has the same name:

$ git config push.default current
$ git push
Total 0 (delta 0), reused 0 (delta 0)
To /Documents/GitHub/bare
 * [new branch]      foo-> foo

The Documentation

From the Git configuration documentation:

> * upstream - push the current branch to its upstream branch... > > * simple - like upstream, but refuses to push if the upstream branch’s name is different from the local one... > > * current - push the current branch to a branch of the same name.

Solution 2 - Git

The difference is that simple pushes to its tracking branch if it has the same name, while current will push to a branch of the same name regardless of any tracking branch:

$ git branch -vvv
  master 58d9fdc [origin/master: ahead 1] t1 bobo
* new    37132d3 [origin/save: ahead 1] t1 bibi   # <- tracking branch 'save'

$ git -c push.default=current push                # <- set `push.default=current`
Counting objects: 3, done.
Writing objects: 100% (3/3), 234 bytes | 0 bytes/s, done.
Total 3 (delta 0), reused 0 (delta 0)
To /home/jthill/sandbox/20/t1
 * [new branch]      new -> new                   # <- and push creates `new` 

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Content TypeOriginal AuthorOriginal Content on Stackoverflow
Questionvoid.pointerView Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - Gituser456814View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - GitjthillView Answer on Stackoverflow