git: switch branch without detaching head

Question

I have a repository on github with a main branch (master) and a branch for some experimental work. I made some commits and pushed to the experimental branch and everything

Answer 1

To expand on Kent's reply, after you do your clone the only branch you'll have (remotes don't count) is the one that was active in the repository you cloned from -- master in your case.

So, first you'll want to create a new branch to track the remote experimental branch:

$ git branch experimental origin/experimental

and then check it out:

$ git checkout experimental

However, Kent is correct -- these two commands can be combined

$ git checkout -b experimental origin/experimental