netlify / netlify/cli

Clarify description of `--alias` flag for `deploy` command

Open Beginner friendly
#1,984 19 comments 3 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

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area: command: deploy area: docs type: feature
Dominant language
TypeScript
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Description

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

We got some docs-related feedback about the --alias flag for the deploy command.

The alias flag was renamed to from the branch flag, and the branch flag is now deprecated. Your explanation makes sense if you think about it as if the flag is named branch because then I could say “well I’m deploying the branch which I have defined as my production branch so I expect it to go to prod”. But if the flag is named alias and the documentation says that this is useful in order to create a more predictable preview URL, then the association between that and what I chose to be the production branch is gone.

Essentially they’re still an implicit connection between “alias” and git branches.

Describe the solution you'd like

Additional content or edits to the deploy documentation, specifically the --alias description.

Additional context

Support Forums post with details about the confusion

Can you submit a pull request?

Yes (if provided more information)

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with the deploy documentation linked in the issue and locate the --alias description. Read the linked support-forum context to clarify the remaining connection with Git branches, then update the explanation so its behavior and purpose are unambiguous; the deploy docs should clearly explain what the flag does and why it affects preview URLs.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
typescript
Domain
cli, documentation
Issue type
Documentation
Difficulty
1/5
Estimated time
Under an hour
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Clearly specified
Newbie friendliness
88/100

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