> in git, for example, why can’t i switch branches with uncommitted changes? it makes no sense why i can’t do that, but yet, there it is. Because the working t

> in git, for example, why can’t i switch branches with uncommitted changes? it makes no sense why i can’t do that, but yet, there it is. Because the working tree having uncommitted changes being blown away would be terrible data loss or a conflicting merge, so when that could happen, git prevents it. Use `git stash` to stash your uncommitted changes before switching branches and you'll no longer have data loss. If you want to apply those changes again use `git stash pop`. If you don't want those changes use `git stash drop`. Why isn't there a commandline option to checkout a branch and do a stash operation at the same time? Because no one has needed it enough to add it.