Create Feature Branch

Create and switch to a new git feature branch for the given specification. This command handles branch creation only, the spec directory and files are created by the core /speckit.specify workflow.

User Input

$ARGUMENTS

You MUST consider the user input before proceeding (if not empty).

Environment Variable Override

If the user explicitly provided GIT_BRANCH_NAME (e.g., via environment variable, argument, or in their request), pass it through to the script by setting the GIT_BRANCH_NAME environment variable before invoking the script. When GIT_BRANCH_NAME is set:

• The script uses the exact value as the branch name, bypassing all prefix/suffix generation
• --short-name, --number, and --timestamp flags are ignored
• FEATURE_NUM is extracted from the name if it starts with a numeric prefix, otherwise set to the full branch name

Prerequisites

• Verify Git is available by running git rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree 2>/dev/null
• If Git is not available, warn the user and skip branch creation

Branch Numbering Mode

Determine the branch numbering strategy by checking configuration in this order:

1. Check .specify/extensions/git/git-config.yml for branch_numbering value
2. Check .specify/init-options.json for branch_numbering value (backward compatibility)
3. Default to sequential if neither exists

Execution

Generate a concise short name (2-4 words) for the branch:

• Analyze the feature description and extract the most meaningful keywords
• Use action-noun format when possible (e.g., "add-user-auth", "fix-payment-bug")
• Preserve technical terms and acronyms (OAuth2, API, JWT, etc.)

Run the appropriate script based on your platform: