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How do I rename a branch on the remote repository?

It is not good practice to rename branches that have been pushed to the remote repository.

Renaming a Git branch that has already been pushed to a remote repository can lead to several complications, primarily due to the way Git and its collaboration features are designed. Here are some key reasons why it's generally not recommended:

  1. Disruption for Collaborators: If other team members have already checked out or are working on the original branch, renaming it will disrupt their workflow. They will have to update their local repositories with the new branch name, which can lead to confusion and potential errors.

  2. Update of Remote References: After renaming the branch locally, you'll need to push the new branch to the remote and then delete the old branch. This requires additional Git commands and careful coordination to ensure all team members are aware of the change.

  3. Impact on Open Pull Requests: If there are open pull requests targeting the old branch name, renaming the branch can cause these pull requests to become disassociated. This requires manual intervention to re-target the pull requests to the new branch name.

Due to these reasons, Copia does not allow users to edit the name of branches from the web app interface.

If you need to rename a branch that has already been pushed to the remote repository, you can follow the instructions on this post. Follow the instructions carefully at your own risk!