git-co-remote-branch.sh

#!/bin/sh

########################################################################
# git-co-remote-branch.sh: Git Remote Branch Checkout Script
#
#  Description:
#  This script simplifies the process of checking out a remote branch in Git.
#  It automatically creates a new local branch that tracks the specified remote branch.
#  This is useful for quickly switching to and working on branches that exist
#  on the remote repository but not yet locally. It checks for Git installation
#  before proceeding.
#
#  Author: id774 (More info: http://id774.net)
#  Source Code: https://github.com/id774/scripts
#  License: LGPLv3 (Details: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-3.0.html)
#  Contact: idnanashi@gmail.com
#
#  Version History:
#  v1.3 2025-03-17
#       Encapsulated all logic in functions and introduced main function.
#  v1.2 2024-01-07
#       Updated command existence and execution permission checks
#       using a common function for enhanced reliability and maintainability.
#  v1.1 2023-12-07
#       Added check for Git installation.
#  v1.0 2016-01-26
#       Initial release. Implements functionality to checkout a remote branch in Git,
#       creating a corresponding local branch that tracks it.
#
#  Usage:
#  Run the script with the name of the remote branch:
#      ./git-co-remote-branch.sh <branch>
#
#  Example:
#      ./git-co-remote-branch.sh feature-branch
#  This will create and switch to a local branch called 'feature-branch'
#  that tracks 'origin/feature-branch'.
#
########################################################################

# Function to check required commands
check_commands() {
    for cmd in "$@"; do
        cmd_path=$(command -v "$cmd" 2>/dev/null)
        if [ -z "$cmd_path" ]; then
            echo "Error: Command '$cmd' is not installed. Please install $cmd and try again." >&2
            exit 127
        elif [ ! -x "$cmd_path" ]; then
            echo "Error: Command '$cmd' is not executable. Please check the permissions." >&2
            exit 126
        fi
    done
}

# Main function to execute the script
main() {
    # Check if Git is installed
    check_commands git

    if [ -n "$1" ]; then
        check_git_installed
        git checkout -b $1 origin/$1
    else
        echo "usage: git-co-remote-branch <branch>"
        exit 0
    fi
}

# Execute main function
main "$@"