unpack-trees: suggesting 'git checkout -m' with its repercussions

Arsh123344423 · Arsh123344423 · commit e0ba5fad8234 · 2026-03-12T03:43:19.000Z
This comment is an extention to the already existing stash comment.
Added updated comment over the already existing function
"setup_unpack_trees_porcelain" with "git checkout -m"
and its repercussions
I have also mentioned the repercussions of using "-m".

Signed-off-by: Arsh Srivastava arshsrivastava00@gmail.com
diff --git a/t/t6439-merge-co-error-msgs.sh b/t/t6439-merge-co-error-msgs.sh
@@ -77,6 +77,9 @@ error: Your local changes to the following files would be overwritten by checkou
 	rep/one
 	rep/two
 Please commit your changes or stash them before you switch branches.
+Try using 'git checkout -m <branch>' for a quick fix.
+Please Note :- that using -m (merge) will not save your changes, rather would directly merge them.
+Meaning if you are not able to resolve conflicts and does --hard reset your local changes would be gone.
 Aborting
 EOF
 
@@ -99,6 +102,9 @@ error: Your local changes to the following files would be overwritten by checkou
 	rep/one
 	rep/two
 Please commit your changes or stash them before you switch branches.
+Try using 'git checkout -m <branch>' for a quick fix.
+Please Note :- that using -m (merge) will not save your changes, rather would directly merge them.
+Meaning if you are not able to resolve conflicts and does --hard reset your local changes would be gone.
 Aborting
 EOF
 
diff --git a/t/t7406-submodule-update.sh b/t/t7406-submodule-update.sh
@@ -212,6 +212,9 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule update should fail due to local changes' '
 	> error: Your local changes to the following files would be overwritten by checkout:
 	> 	file
 	> Please commit your changes or stash them before you switch branches.
+	> Try using '\''git checkout -m <branch>'\'' for a quick fix.
+	> Please Note :- that using -m (merge) will not save your changes, rather would directly merge them.
+	> Meaning if you are not able to resolve conflicts and does --hard reset your local changes would be gone.
 	> Aborting
 	> fatal: Unable to checkout OID in submodule path '\''submodule'\''
 	EOF
diff --git a/unpack-trees.c b/unpack-trees.c
@@ -128,8 +128,13 @@ void setup_unpack_trees_porcelain(struct unpack_trees_options *opts,
 	if (!strcmp(cmd, "checkout"))
 		msg = advice_enabled(ADVICE_COMMIT_BEFORE_MERGE)
 		      ? _("Your local changes to the following files would be overwritten by checkout:\n%%s"
-			  "Please commit your changes or stash them before you switch branches.")
-		      : _("Your local changes to the following files would be overwritten by checkout:\n%%s");
+			  "Please commit your changes or stash them before you switch branches.\n"
+			  "Try using 'git checkout -m <branch>' for a quick fix.\n"
+			  "Please Note :- that using -m (merge) will not save your changes, rather would directly merge them.\n"
+			  "Meaning if you are not able to resolve conflicts and does --hard reset your local changes would be gone."
+			  )
+		      : _("Your local changes to the following files would be overwritten by checkout:\n%%s"
+				"Please commit your changes or stash them before you switch branches.");
 	else if (!strcmp(cmd, "merge"))
 		msg = advice_enabled(ADVICE_COMMIT_BEFORE_MERGE)
 		      ? _("Your local changes to the following files would be overwritten by merge:\n%%s"
