Git alias with shell variable expansions

Question

I'd like to use a shell variable expansion inside of a git alias to strip a prefix of a branch. Unfortunately when I use the "standard" alias, variable expansion is not done:

publish = push -u origin ${$(git symbolic-ref HEAD)##refs/heads/}

This is trying to actually push a branch called "${$(git". But if I change the alias to:

publish = "!git push -u origin ${$(git symbolic-ref HEAD)##refs/heads/}"

it's run via sh and fails to do the substitution I want. Is there some workaround?

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 29 '11 at 13:23

1

Try changing

!git push -u origin ${$(git symbolic-ref HEAD)##refs/heads/}

to

!git push -u origin `git symbolic-ref HEAD | sed -e "s#^refs/heads/##"`

This uses sh backticks to execute commands and sed to do the regular expression substitution.

answered Nov 29 '11 at 13:23

Go Dan

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@viraptor mmmm if that's the solution, I'd seriously consider just delegating to a bash script proper and not bother with any such archaics :) In a bash script, there will be no surprises and unlimited options. – sehe Nov 29 '11 at 21:59

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 03 '12 at 22:00

1

Low-level explanation: The ${xxx} syntax always requires a variable name for xxx. It does not substitute an arbitrary string. To use ##, one would have to: x=$(git symbolic-ref HEAD); echo ${x##refs/heads/};

answered Jan 03 '12 at 22:00

jørgensen

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True for bash, but zsh does support it as the OP wrote it. – Tom Hale Sep 25 '18 at 14:36

Git alias with shell variable expansions

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