git-brv

List each branch showing date, latest commit hash and message

$ git brv

git-brv [options] [<pattern>]

-a, --all
    Show both local and remote-tracking branches. By default, only local branches are shown.

-r, --remotes
    Show only remote-tracking branches.

--column[=]
    Display output in columns. Options can control layout (e.g., 'always', 'never', 'plain', 'dense').

--sort=
    Sort the output by a specified key, such as 'committerdate' or 'refname'.

<pattern>
    Filter branches by a given shell-style pattern. Only branches matching the pattern will be displayed.

git-brv is a common alias or custom command in Git environments, typically designed to provide a verbose listing of Git branches. While not a built-in Git command, it usually wraps or is aliased to `git branch -vv` (or `git branch --all -vv`). This command is highly useful for developers to quickly assess the state of their local branches, including their associated upstream tracking branches, and the status relative to their upstream (e.g., "ahead", "behind", "gone").

The output generally includes the branch name, the SHA-1 hash of its latest commit, the subject line of that commit, and critically, the configured upstream branch with an indicator of how far the local branch is ahead or behind its upstream counterpart. This aggregated view helps in managing branches, especially in collaborative projects, by providing immediate insights into synchronization status.

The exact behavior of git-brv is highly dependent on how it's configured in a user's Git environment. It is most commonly an alias (e.g., `git config --global alias.brv 'branch -vv'`). As such, its available options and specific output format might vary from one system to another. Users should check their Git configuration to confirm its definition if discrepancies are observed.

A typical output of git-brv (when aliased to `git branch -vv`) might look like this:

`* master a1b2c3d [origin/master] Commit message here
feature-X 4d5e6f7 [origin/feature-X: ahead 2] Another commit message
develop 8g9h0i1 [origin/develop: behind 5] Yet another commit

This format indicates the current branch (`*`), the branch name, its commit SHA-1, the upstream tracking branch in italics (if any), and its sync status (e.g., 'ahead 2', 'behind 5').

To set up git-brv as a global alias, you can use the command:

`git config --global alias.brv 'branch -vv'`

For including all branches (local and remote):

`git config --global alias.brv 'branch -a -vv'`

These commands add the alias definition to your `~/.gitconfig` file.

The command git-brv does not have a formal historical development as a standalone Git command. Instead, its origin lies in the Git community's need for a quick and convenient way to view verbose branch information. Developers frequently create custom aliases like `git brv` (short for 'branch verbose') to streamline their workflow, combining `git branch` with common options like `-vv` (very verbose) or `-a` (all branches). This practice became widespread due to Git's powerful aliasing capabilities, allowing users to tailor commands to their specific needs and preferences.

git(1), git-branch(1), git-config(1), git-remote(1)