How to create a branch on github to freeze your code in a particular version

The nature of developing is that the code is in constant change. These could be new features, bug fixes, code refactoring or some modifications to polishing the code.

Sooner or later you are going to realize that on some occasions you need to have access and a reference to the code you tested or officially published. This is a big topic and I don't want to go into deep details about it. If you are interested to know more try to search on the web for Software Release Management topic.

As a simple example please take a look at my previous blog Challenge 1 script. I tested my code and documented the expected results. Some days after as I worked on the other scripts I made changes to my original code as well. For anyone who would like to take a look what I was describing previous it would be very difficult. Looking the latest code from github is not what you really want.

Problem

How to create a branch on github to release a particular version of your code.

Solution

 
$ git branch
* master
$ git checkout 47677b8c1cf79e6517b2caf7b32aca59b4d38795
HEAD is now at 47677b8... prints ipv4 ip

$ git branch
* (no branch)
  master

$ git branch challange1
$ git branch
* (no branch)
  challange1
  master

$ git checkout challange1
Switched to branch 'challange1'

$ git branch
* challange1
  master

$ git push origin challange1
Warning: Permanently added 'github.com,204.232.175.90' (RSA) to the list of known hosts.
Counting objects: 33, done.
Delta compression using up to 8 threads.
Compressing objects: 100% (23/23), done.
Writing objects: 100% (33/33), 6.10 KiB, done.
Total 33 (delta 13), reused 15 (delta 4)
To git@github.com:rtomaszewski/api-challenge.git
 * [new branch]      challange1 - challange1

After the branch is created you can always download the code for it: https://github.com/rtomaszewski/api-challenge/tree/challange1

References

1. https://github.com/Kunena/Kunena-2.0/wiki/Create-a-new-branch-with-git-and-manage-branches 
2. http://git-scm.com/book/en/Git-Branching-Basic-Branching-and-Merging