`issue develop`: prevent .git/config corruption on repeated `--name` invocation by gunadhya · Pull Request #12651 · cli/cli

gunadhya · 2026-02-09T10:06:26Z

Fixes #12575
Reuse an existing linked branch (same name + repo) instead of failing when it already exists

In developRunCreate, when --name is provided:

Look up linked branches for the issue
Reuse a matching branch if it exists
Only create a new linked branch if no match is found

gcomneno · 2026-02-28T09:19:05Z

Tested PR #12651 locally on Ubuntu 24.04 (linux/amd64) with Go 1.25.6.

Commands run:
gh pr checkout -R cli/cli 12651
go test -count=1 ./...

Result:
All packages passed.

Looked through the changes in pkg/cmd/issue/develop:

The implementation now checks existing linked branches (ListLinkedBranches) when a branch name is provided and reuses an existing linked branch for the same repo/name instead of attempting to recreate it.
There is an explicit guard for an empty branch name response ("API returned empty branch name"), which should prevent writing invalid git config entries (e.g. the [branch \"\"] / branch..gh-merge-base corruption described in Repeating the command gh issue develop twice breaks config #12575).
Added test coverage for: reuse path (including the TTY message), invalid base branch, and empty-name response.

This looks aligned with the expected behavior for repeated invocation and should avoid corrupting .git/config.

BagToad

Sorry @gunadhya I forgot to submit my review comments! Just a couple nits and I think we can ship this.

Also huge thanks to @gcomneno for testing this out too.

BagToad · 2026-02-12T18:12:19Z

pkg/cmd/issue/develop/develop.go

+	branchID := ""
+	baseValidated := false
+	if opts.BaseBranch != "" {
+		opts.IO.StartProgressIndicator()


All these starting and stopping of the progress indicator can probably be simplified to one call to start it, a defer to catch the error cases and then a closing call to stop it.

We can also pass in a nice loading message with StartProgressIndicatorWithLabel

gunadhya · 2026-03-02T11:36:08Z

@BagToad no worries, added the requested changes
let me know if they look good

BagToad

LGTM, thanks for your efforts and patience!

gunadhya · 2026-03-05T06:10:01Z

glad to contribute!

This MR contains the following updates: | Package | Update | Change | |---|---|---| | [cli/cli](https://github.com/cli/cli) | minor | `v2.87.3` → `v2.88.1` | MR created with the help of [el-capitano/tools/renovate-bot](https://gitlab.com/el-capitano/tools/renovate-bot). **Proposed changes to behavior should be submitted there as MRs.** --- ### Release Notes <details> <summary>cli/cli (cli/cli)</summary> ### [`v2.88.1`](https://github.com/cli/cli/releases/tag/v2.88.1): GitHub CLI 2.88.1 [Compare Source](cli/cli@v2.88.0...v2.88.1) #### Fix `pr` commands failing with `read:project` scope error v2.88.0 introduced a regression where `pr` commands would fail with the error: ``` error: your authentication token is missing required scopes [read:project] To request it, run: gh auth refresh -s read:project ``` Previously, missing read:project scope was gracefully handled, and project data was silently skipped. A change inadvertently broke the error matching that enabled this graceful degradation. v2.88.1 reverts these changes so that `pr` commands work correctly without requiring the `read:project` scope. #### What's Changed - Migrate Windows code signing from client secret to OIDC by [@BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#12911](cli/cli#12911) - Revert "refactor: deduplicate scope error handling between api/client.go and project queries" by [@williammartin](https://github.com/williammartin) in [#12914](cli/cli#12914) - Revert "fix: clarify scope error while creating issues for projects" by [@williammartin](https://github.com/williammartin) in [#12915](cli/cli#12915) **Full Changelog**: <cli/cli@v2.88.0...v2.88.1> ### [`v2.88.0`](https://github.com/cli/cli/releases/tag/v2.88.0): GitHub CLI 2.88.0 [Compare Source](cli/cli@v2.87.3...v2.88.0) ####

Request Copilot Code Review from `gh` <img width="80%" height="80%" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/c9b86700-5934-44b6-9210-227495a18d8e" /> `gh pr create` and `gh pr edit` now support [Copilot Code Review](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/using-github-copilot/code-review/using-copilot-code-review) as a reviewer. Request a review with `--add-reviewer @copilot`, or select Copilot interactively from the searchable reviewer prompt. Create a pull request and request review from Copilot: ``` gh pr create --reviewer @copilot ``` Edit a pull request and request review from Copilot: ``` gh pr edit --add-reviewer @copilot ``` #### Close issues as duplicates with `gh issue close --duplicate-of` You can now close issues as duplicates and link to a duplicate issue directly from the CLI. The new `--duplicate-of` flag accepts an issue number or URL and marks the closed issue as a duplicate of the referenced one. You can also use `--reason duplicate` to set the close reason without linking a specific issue. ``` # Close as duplicate, linking to the original issue gh issue close 123 --duplicate-of 456 # Close with duplicate reason only gh issue close 123 --reason duplicate ``` #### JSON support for `gh agent-task` `gh agent-task list` and `gh agent-task view` now support `--json`, `--jq`, and `--template` flags, consistent with other `gh` commands. ``` gh agent-task list --json id,name,state gh agent-task view <id> --json state --jq '.state' ``` #### What's Changed ##### ✨ Features - `gh pr create`: login-based reviewer requests and search-based interactive selection by [@BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#12627](cli/cli#12627) - `gh pr view` and `gh issue view`: show friendly display names for all actors by [@BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#12854](cli/cli#12854) - `gh issue close`: add `--duplicate-of` flag and duplicate reason by [@tksohishi](https://github.com/tksohishi) in [#12811](cli/cli#12811) - `gh pr diff`: add `--exclude` flag to filter files from diff output by [@yuvrajangadsingh](https://github.com/yuvrajangadsingh) in [#12655](cli/cli#12655) - `gh pr view/list`: add `changeType` field to files JSON output by [@yuvrajangadsingh](https://github.com/yuvrajangadsingh) in [#12657](cli/cli#12657) - `gh repo clone`: add `--no-upstream` flag by [@4RH1T3CT0R7](https://github.com/4RH1T3CT0R7) in [#12686](cli/cli#12686) - `gh repo edit`: add `--squash-merge-commit-message` flag by [@yuvrajangadsingh](https://github.com/yuvrajangadsingh) in [#12846](cli/cli#12846) - `gh browse`: add `--blame` flag by [@masonmcelvain](https://github.com/masonmcelvain) in [#11486](cli/cli#11486) - `gh agent-task list`: add `--json` support by [@maxbeizer](https://github.com/maxbeizer) in [#12806](cli/cli#12806) - `gh agent-task view`: add `--json` support by [@maxbeizer](https://github.com/maxbeizer) in [#12807](cli/cli#12807) - `gh copilot`: set `COPILOT_GH` env var when launching Copilot CLI by [@devm33](https://github.com/devm33) in [#12821](cli/cli#12821) ##### 🐛 Fixes - Fix `gh project item-edit` error when editing Draft Issue with only one (`--title`/`--body`) flag by [@ManManavadaria](https://github.com/ManManavadaria) in [#12787](cli/cli#12787) - Fix extension install error message showing raw struct instead of `owner/repo` by [@Copilot](https://github.com/Copilot) in [#12836](cli/cli#12836) - Fix incorrect integer conversion from int to uint16 in port forwarder by [@BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#12831](cli/cli#12831) - Fix invalid ANSI SGR escape code in JSON and diff colorization by [@BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#12720](cli/cli#12720) - Fix assignees `databaseId` always being `0` in `--json` output by [@srt32](https://github.com/srt32) in [#12783](cli/cli#12783) - Fix error when `--remote` flag used with repo argument by [@majiayu000](https://github.com/majiayu000) in [#12375](cli/cli#12375) - Fix redundant API call in `gh issue view --comments` by [@VishnuVV27](https://github.com/VishnuVV27) in [#12652](cli/cli#12652) - Clarify scope error while creating issues for projects by [@elijahthis](https://github.com/elijahthis) in [#12596](cli/cli#12596) - Reject pull request-only search qualifiers in `gh issue list` by [@LouisLau-art](https://github.com/LouisLau-art) in [#12623](cli/cli#12623) - Prevent `.git/config` corruption on repeated `issue develop --name` invocation by [@gunadhya](https://github.com/gunadhya) in [#12651](cli/cli#12651) - Use pre-compiled regexp for matching Content-Type by [@itchyny](https://github.com/itchyny) in [#12781](cli/cli#12781) - Isolate generated licenses per platform (os/arch) by [@babakks](https://github.com/babakks) in [#12774](cli/cli#12774) ##### 📚 Docs & Chores - Add examples to `gh issue close` help text by [@BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#12830](cli/cli#12830) - Customizable install `prefix` in Makefile by [@scarf005](https://github.com/scarf005) in [#11714](cli/cli#11714) - Deduplicate scope error handling between `api/client.go` and project queries by [@yuvrajangadsingh](https://github.com/yuvrajangadsingh) in [#12845](cli/cli#12845) - Remove unnecessary `StateReason` and `StateReasonDuplicate` feature detection by [@BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#12838](cli/cli#12838) - Update Go version requirement to 1.26+ by [@BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#12864](cli/cli#12864) - Add monthly pitch surfacing workflow by [@tidy-dev](https://github.com/tidy-dev) in [#12894](cli/cli#12894) #####

Dependencies - Bump Go from 1.25.7 to 1.26.1 by [@BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#12860](cli/cli#12860) - chore(deps): bump golang.org/x/sync from 0.19.0 to 0.20.0 by [@dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot)\[bot] in [#12886](cli/cli#12886) - chore(deps): bump google.golang.org/grpc from 1.79.1 to 1.79.2 by [@dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot)\[bot] in [#12851](cli/cli#12851) - chore(deps): bump github.com/docker/cli from 29.0.3+incompatible to 29.2.0+incompatible by [@dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot)\[bot] in [#12842](cli/cli#12842) - chore(deps): bump google.golang.org/grpc from 1.78.0 to 1.79.1 by [@dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot)\[bot] in [#12759](cli/cli#12759) - chore(deps): bump goreleaser/goreleaser-action from 6.4.0 to 7.0.0 by [@dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot)\[bot] in [#12760](cli/cli#12760) - chore(deps): bump actions/upload-artifact from 6 to 7 by [@dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot)\[bot] in [#12797](cli/cli#12797) - chore(deps): bump actions/download-artifact from 7 to 8 by [@dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot)\[bot] in [#12796](cli/cli#12796) - chore(deps): bump actions/attest-build-provenance from 3.2.0 to 4.1.0 by [@dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot)\[bot] in [#12795](cli/cli#12795) - chore(deps): bump github.com/gabriel-vasile/mimetype from 1.4.11 to 1.4.13 by [@dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot)\[bot] in [#12615](cli/cli#12615) #### New Contributors - [@srt32](https://github.com/srt32) made their first contribution in [#12783](cli/cli#12783) - [@itchyny](https://github.com/itchyny) made their first contribution in [#12781](cli/cli#12781) - [@VishnuVV27](https://github.com/VishnuVV27) made their first contribution in [#12652](cli/cli#12652) - [@elijahthis](https://github.com/elijahthis) made their first contribution in [#12596](cli/cli#12596) - [@ManManavadaria](https://github.com/ManManavadaria) made their first contribution in [#12787](cli/cli#12787) - [@maxbeizer](https://github.com/maxbeizer) made their first contribution in [#12806](cli/cli#12806) - [@LouisLau-art](https://github.com/LouisLau-art) made their first contribution in [#12623](cli/cli#12623) - [@4RH1T3CT0R7](https://github.com/4RH1T3CT0R7) made their first contribution in [#12686](cli/cli#12686) - [@yuvrajangadsingh](https://github.com/yuvrajangadsingh) made their first contribution in [#12657](cli/cli#12657) - [@masonmcelvain](https://github.com/masonmcelvain) made their first contribution in [#11486](cli/cli#11486) - [@scarf005](https://github.com/scarf005) made their first contribution in [#11714](cli/cli#11714) - [@tksohishi](https://github.com/tksohishi) made their first contribution in [#12811](cli/cli#12811) - [@tidy-dev](https://github.com/tidy-dev) made their first contribution in [#12894](cli/cli#12894) **Full Changelog**: <cli/cli@v2.87.3...v2.88.0> </details> --- ### Configuration 📅 **Schedule**: Branch creation - At any time (no schedule defined), Automerge - At any time (no schedule defined). 🚦 **Automerge**: Disabled by config. Please merge this manually once you are satisfied. ♻ **Rebasing**: Whenever MR becomes conflicted, or you tick the rebase/retry checkbox. 🔕 **Ignore**: Close this MR and you won't be reminded about this update again. --- - [ ] If you want to rebase/retry this MR, check this box --- This MR has been generated by [Renovate Bot](https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate).

gunadhya temporarily deployed to cli-automation February 9, 2026 10:06 — with GitHub Actions Inactive

gunadhya force-pushed the fix-repeating-cmd-gh-issue-develop branch from 4f5cc42 to bee197c Compare February 9, 2026 18:00

Fix issue develop repeated invocation with named branches

b38f677

gunadhya force-pushed the fix-repeating-cmd-gh-issue-develop branch 2 times, most recently from 1a95ac4 to b38f677 Compare February 9, 2026 18:09

gunadhya marked this pull request as ready for review February 9, 2026 18:38

gunadhya requested a review from a team as a code owner February 9, 2026 18:38

gunadhya requested a review from BagToad February 9, 2026 18:38

gunadhya temporarily deployed to cli-automation February 9, 2026 18:38 — with GitHub Actions Inactive

cliAutomation added the external pull request originating outside of the CLI core team label Feb 9, 2026

BagToad changed the title ~~issue develop: prevent .git/config corruption on repeated --name invocation~~ issue develop: prevent .git/config corruption on repeated --name invocation Feb 12, 2026

BagToad reviewed Feb 28, 2026

View reviewed changes

Simplify progress indicators in issue develop

ee8014a

BagToad self-requested a review March 4, 2026 01:14

BagToad approved these changes Mar 4, 2026

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BagToad merged commit 4ea9076 into cli:trunk Mar 4, 2026
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`issue develop`: prevent .git/config corruption on repeated `--name` invocation#12651

`issue develop`: prevent .git/config corruption on repeated `--name` invocation#12651
BagToad merged 2 commits intocli:trunkfrom
gunadhya:fix-repeating-cmd-gh-issue-develop

gunadhya commented Feb 9, 2026

Uh oh!

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