ck

Checkout a branch in a submodule, with fuzzy search support. (CK = Checkout)

Scope

Operates on the current submodule or the submodule specified by the user.

Steps

Step 1: Determine Target Submodule

If user specifies a submodule name, use it. Otherwise detect from current directory:

# Check if we're inside a submodule
sm_path=$(git rev-parse --show-superproject-working-tree 2>/dev/null)
if [ -n "$sm_path" ]; then
  echo "IN_SUBMODULE=true"
else
  # List available submodules for user to pick
  git submodule --quiet foreach 'echo $sm_path'
fi

Step 2: Fuzzy Search Branches

If user provided a branch name (or partial name after @ck):

input="<user_input>"

# Fetch latest branches
git fetch origin --prune --quiet 2>/dev/null

# Search: local branches first, then remote
echo "=== Local branches ==="
git branch --list "*${input}*" --sort=-committerdate | head -10

echo "=== Remote branches ==="
git branch -r --list "*${input}*" --sort=-committerdate | head -10

Show matches to user. If multiple matches, let user pick. If exactly one match, confirm and proceed.

If user provided NO branch name, show recent branches:

echo "=== Recent branches (last 10) ==="
git branch -r --sort=-committerdate | head -10

Step 3: Checkout

Two modes based on user intent:

Mode A: Direct checkout (switch submodule's current branch)

git checkout <branch>

Mode B: Create worktree (for development work)

branch="<selected_branch>"
sm_name=$(basename $(pwd))
wt_name="${sm_name}-$(echo $branch | sed 's#origin/##; s#/#-#g')"
wt_path="worktrees/${wt_name}"

# Create worktree at project root level
git worktree add "../../worktrees/${wt_name}" -b "$(echo $branch | sed 's#origin/##')" "$branch" 2>/dev/null \
  || git worktree add "../../worktrees/${wt_name}" "$branch"

echo "Worktree created: $wt_path (branch: $branch)"

Ask user which mode they want, default to Mode B (worktree) for feature branches.

Edge Cases

• Branch not found: Show "No branches matching ''. Did you mean:" with closest matches.
• Worktree already exists for branch: Warn and show existing worktree path.
• Detached HEAD in submodule: Warn user before checkout.