Git: Check out a branch from a list of recently checked out branches/tags/commits

git-recent

#!/usr/bin/env bash

# Source:   https://gist.github.com/fritz-c/c1e528b09bc1c0827a3c
# Original: https://gist.github.com/jordan-brough/48e2803c0ffa6dc2e0bd

# Download this script as "git-recent" (no extension), chmod it to be executable and put it in your
# path somewhere (e.g. /usr/bin). You can then use it via `git recent` from inside any git repo.

# Example:
#
# $ git recent -n 3
# 1) master
# 2) stable
# 3) develop
# Choose a branch (or 'q' to quit): 3
# Switched to branch 'develop'

usage()
{
  echo "usage: git recent [-n lines]"
}

while getopts "n:" opt; do
  case $opt in
    n)
      NUM=$OPTARG
      ;;
    \?)
      usage
      exit 1
      ;;
  esac
done

NUM=${NUM-5} # default to 5 lines

# This: `awk ' !x[$0]++'` removes duplicates.  See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11532157
UNIQUE_BRANCHES=$(git reflog | egrep -io "moving from ([^[:space:]]+)" | awk '{ print $3 }' | awk ' !x[$0]++')

# Exclude branches that don't exist locally
BRANCH_CHOICES=( $(echo "$UNIQUE_BRANCHES" | while read line; do
  git rev-parse --verify "$line" &>/dev/null && echo "$line"
done | head -n "$NUM") )

# Show the selectable options as 1 column
COLUMNS=1
PS3="Choose a branch (or 'q' to quit): "
select d in "${BRANCH_CHOICES[@]}"; do
    if [[ "$REPLY" == "q" ]]; then
        exit 0
    elif test -n "$d"; then
        break
    else
        echo ">>> Invalid Selection"
    fi
done

if test -n "$d"; then
    git checkout "$d"
else
    echo "No branches to select from"
fi