git change default branch (gitolite)

Question

I've got a repository with branches: master and devel. Master is the default one. I want to rename master into prod and make it default (and push it to the server). How to do this?

Repository is hosted in gitolite (if it matters).

Answer 1

You need to have access to the server in order to change the symbolic-ref of HEAD to the branch you have pushed there (prod).

git-symbolic-ref HEAD refs/head/prod

I tentatively proposed a way to do that from a client at the end of "How do I change a Git remote HEAD to point to something besides “master”", but it is easier if you can log on the server directly.

Note: with the latest Gitolite V3, you actually can run that command (see "non-core commands"):

/home/git/gitolite# gitolite symbolic-ref -h

Usage:    ssh git@host symbolic-ref <repo> <arguments to git-symbolic-ref>

allow 'git symbolic-ref' over a gitolite connection

So, through an ssh command, you actually can change HEAD for remote repos managed by gitolite (V3).

ssh git@host symbolic-ref <repo> refs/head/prod

Answer 2

I had to use (Gitolite 3.5.3):

ssh git@host symbolic-ref <repo> HEAD refs/heads/prod