Re: Checkout previous branch command not working on ​2.34.1.400

I'm going to bet you're absolutely correct. Yeah, the error message
could be clearer.

After using "git checkout [branch]" for a while, I reflexively typed
"git checkout -" and it worked again.

- Will Beason

On Mon, Dec 6, 2021 at 11:17 AM Eric Sunshine [off-list ref] wrote:

On Mon, Dec 6, 2021 at 12:04 PM Will Beason [off-list ref] wrote:

quoted

I typed "git checkout -"
error: pathspec '-' did not match any file(s) known to git

I expected the previously-working behavior of switching to previous branch to
work, but it didn't.

If I recall correctly, for `-` to work it consults the reflog, but if
the reflog has been cleared or expired, it won't be able to determine
the previous branch. For instance, try this:

    % git init foo
    % cd foo
    % echo data >data
    % git add data
    % git commit -m data
    % git checkout -b other
    % git checkout -
    % git reflog expire --expire=now --all
    % git checkout -
    error: pathspec '-' did not match any file(s) known to git

So, this is probably expected behavior, though the error message isn't
very helpful and perhaps could be improved.