github / github/app

New-session branch picker only enumerates the 'origin' remote; repos with other remote names show only the default branch

Open
#1,392 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Bugs
Dominant language
No language data
Stars
2.1k
Forks
153
PR merge metrics
No merged PRs in 30d

Description

### Summary

When creating a new session for a multi-repo collection project, the branch picker only enumerates branches for repos whose remote is named `origin`. Repos that use a differently-named remote (e.g. `github`) fall back to showing only the default branch (`main`), and their `repo_full_name` is reported as `unknown`.

### Repro

Collection project with two member repos:

- `frontend` — remote named `origin` -> all branches are listed in the new-session branch picker.
- `backend` — remote named `github` (same GitHub URL, just a different remote name) -> only `main` is selectable, and the repo shows up as `repo_full_name: unknown`.

Both remotes point at valid GitHub repos:

```
origin https://github.com/Org/frontend.git
github https://github.com/Org/backend.git
```

### Expected

Branch enumeration and repo resolution should work regardless of the remote name. The app should inspect all configured remotes (or at least the one backing the tracked/default branch) rather than hard-coding a lookup for `origin`.

### Actual

Only the `origin` remote is consulted. Repos without an `origin` remote are limited to the default branch and are labeled `unknown`.

### Workaround

Add or rename the remote to `origin`:

```
git remote rename github origin
```

After this, the new-session branch picker lists all branches for that repo.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start at the new-session branch picker and trace how it discovers remotes and resolves repo_full_name. Reproduce with a repository whose remote is named github, then verify that all branches are listed and the repository is no longer shown as unknown without renaming the remote.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
git, github
Domain
desktop
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
58/100

Get new issues in your inbox

A short digest of beginner-friendly GitHub issues.