Clone a Local Working Branch of a Git Repository to a VM

I'm testing and developing in an OpenShift All-in-One cluster in a VM. I needed my local working branch of a git repository cloned in my VM. I compiled bits and pieces of my web search into this post, so hopefully when the next developer searches the title of this blog they'll find this!

Substitute in the commands below:

  REPO=repoToClone

  WORKING_BRANCH=workingBranchName

  BARE_REPO="$REPO-bare"

  PATH_TO_REPOS=/path/to/your/repo

  REPO_PATH=/path/to/your/repo/$REPO

  BARE_REPO_PATH=/path/to/your/repo/$BARE_REPO

  PUBLIC_DNS_OF_VM

  VM_USER=output of 'echo ${USER}' from VM

Run these commands while ssh'd into the VM.  I recommend putting these in a script so you can easily sync your local repositories to your VM whenever necessary:

sudo mkdir -p $PATH_TO_REPOS

sudo chown -R $USER:$USER $PATH_TO_REPOS

cd $PATH_TO_REPOS

git init --bare $BARE_REPO

git clone $BARE_REPO_PATH $REPO_PATH

cd $REPO

touch file.txt && git add . && git commit -m 'added a file so I could create a working branch'

git push origin master

Here is output of the above commands:

In local machine, clone your git repository to the VM $BARE_REPO:

  cd $REPO_PATH

  git push -q ssh://$VM_USER@$PUBLIC_DNS_OF_VM$BARE_REPO_PATH --force --verbose

Here is output from the git push:

SSH back into VM and run these:

  cd $REPO_PATH

  git pull (this will open a git vim window, enter 'wq' to continue merge)

  git checkout $WORKING_BRANCH

Finally, here is a screenshot of the repository contents and branch name in the VM:

You now have your current local working branch of a git repository cloned to your VM :)