create-branch
Create a git branch following Sentry naming conventions. Use when asked to "create a branch", "new branch", "start a branch", "make a branch", "switch to a new branch", or when starting new work on the default branch.
Best use case
create-branch is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Create a git branch following Sentry naming conventions. Use when asked to "create a branch", "new branch", "start a branch", "make a branch", "switch to a new branch", or when starting new work on the default branch.
Teams using create-branch should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/create-branch/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How create-branch Compares
| Feature / Agent | create-branch | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Create a git branch following Sentry naming conventions. Use when asked to "create a branch", "new branch", "start a branch", "make a branch", "switch to a new branch", or when starting new work on the default branch.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Create Branch Create a git branch with the correct type prefix and a descriptive name following Sentry conventions. ## Step 1: Get the Username Prefix Run `gh api user --jq .login` to get the GitHub username. If the command fails (e.g. not authenticated), ask the user for their preferred prefix. ## Step 2: Determine the Branch Description **If `$ARGUMENTS` is provided**, use it as the description of the work. **If no arguments**, check for local changes: ```bash git diff git diff --cached git status --short ``` - **Changes exist**: read the diff content to understand what the work is about and generate a description. - **No changes**: ask the user what they are about to work on. ## Step 3: Classify the Type Pick the type from this table based on the description: | Type | Use when | | --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `feat` | New user-facing functionality | | `fix` | Broken behavior now works | | `ref` | Same behavior, different structure | | `chore` | Deps, config, version bumps, updating existing tooling — no new logic | | `perf` | Same behavior, faster | | `style` | CSS, formatting, visual-only | | `docs` | Documentation only | | `test` | Tests only | | `ci` | CI/CD config | | `build` | Build system | | `meta` | Repo metadata changes | | `license` | License changes | When unsure: `feat` for new things (including new scripts, skills, or tools), `ref` for restructuring existing things, `chore` only when updating/maintaining something that already exists. ## Step 4: Generate and Propose Build the branch name as `<username>/<type>/<short-description>`. Rules for `<short-description>`: - Kebab-case, lowercase - 3 to 6 words, concise but clear - Describe the change, not file names - Only use ASCII letters, digits, and hyphens — no spaces, dots, colons, tildes, or other git-forbidden characters Present it to the user and ask if they want to use it, modify it, or change the type. ### Examples | Work description | Branch name | | ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------- | | Dropdown menu not closing on outside click | `priscila/fix/dropdown-not-closing-on-blur` | | Adding search to conversations page | `priscila/feat/add-search-to-conversations` | | Restructuring drawer components | `priscila/ref/simplify-drawer-components` | | Updating test fixtures | `priscila/chore/update-test-fixtures` | | Bumping @sentry/react to latest version | `priscila/chore/bump-sentry-react` | | Adding a new agent skill | `priscila/feat/add-create-branch-skill` | ## Step 5: Create the Branch Once confirmed, detect the current and default branch: ```bash git branch --show-current git remote | grep -qx origin && echo origin || git remote | head -1 git symbolic-ref refs/remotes/<remote>/HEAD 2>/dev/null | sed 's|refs/remotes/<remote>/||' | tr -d '[:space:]' ``` If `symbolic-ref` fails, fall back to `git branch --list main master`: use the one that exists; if both or neither exist, ask the user. If `git branch --show-current` is empty (detached HEAD), show the current commit (`git rev-parse --short HEAD`) and ask whether to branch from it or switch to the default branch first. Otherwise, if the current branch is not the default branch, warn the user and ask whether to branch from the current branch or switch to the default branch first. If the user wants to switch to the default branch, handle any uncommitted changes appropriately (offer to stash them if present), then run `git checkout <default-branch>`. On any failure, restore stashed changes if applicable and stop. Before creating the branch, check that the name doesn't already exist locally or on the remote (`git show-ref`). If it does, ask the user to choose a different name. Create the branch: ```bash git checkout -b <branch-name> ``` Restore any stashed changes after the branch is created. ## References - [Sentry Branch Naming](https://develop.sentry.dev/sdk/getting-started/standards/code-submission/#branch-naming)
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