git-rename

GIT-RENAME Command

Renames the current branch (typically a feature/auto-* branch created by the PreToolUse hook).

Context

$ARGUMENTS

Goal

Give a descriptive name to an auto-generated branch (or simply rename the current branch), locally and on the remote if it has already been pushed.

Usage

/git-rename <new-name>

Examples:

/git-rename feature/git-rename-command
/git-rename fix/login-redirect
/git-rename refactor/api-client

The prefix (feature/, fix/, refactor/...) is optional: if absent, feature/ is added by default.

Workflow

1. Check the state
   • Read the current branch (git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)
   • Refuse if the branch is main or master (impossible to rename in place without confusion)
   • Check that the new name is valid (no spaces, no git-special characters)
2. Rename locally
   • git branch -m <new-name>
3. Sync the remote (if the branch has been pushed)
   • Detect the upstream (git rev-parse --abbrev-ref --symbolic-full-name @{u})
   • If upstream exists: git push origin :<old-name> <new-name> then git push origin -u <new-name>
   • Otherwise: no push, just a message indicating that the branch is local
4. Confirm
   • Display the new branch and its remote tracking

Expected output

• Branch renamed locally (and on the remote if applicable)
• git status + git branch -vv confirmation to verify tracking
• If a PR already exists on the old branch, warn the user that they must update it manually (GitHub does not follow a branch rename)

Special cases

Situation	Action
main/master branch	REFUSE, explain why
New name == current name	Do nothing, informative message
New name already exists locally	REFUSE, suggest another name
No upstream	Rename locally only
PR open on the old branch	Rename + WARN: the PR points to a branch that no longer exists, manual action required

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IMPORTANT: NEVER delete the old remote branch before having pushed the new one (use git push origin :old new in a single command to stay atomic on the remote side).