Posted: 2026-08-09

Git branches and Emacs built-in VC

Emacs VC

Emacs VC is the built-in Emacs version control interface.

It is very capable, and its use is intuitive.

Emacs VC can be used with practically all version control systems. I have used it frequently with RCS and CVS.

For my typical use of Git, VC offers all I need, and I have stopped installing and using Magit.

The default key bindings of VC all start with C-x v

For example, to commit changes, use C-x v v, and push them with C-x v P.

To create a new branch, use C-x v b c

This will prompt for the name of the new branch and ask for the start-point of the branch.

To switch to a different branch, use C-x v b s.

This will prompt for the name of the branch, you can use completion to select a branch.

To merge merge changes from another branch in the current, use C-x v m.

This will prompt for the name of the branch, you can use completion to select a branch.

To push to the upstream branch, use C-x v P

To pull from the upstream branch, use C-x v +.

To view the change log of another branch, use C-x v b l.

This gives a Git blame like overview of changes of the current fileset.

Display the VC directory byffer with C-x v d.

This is a very useful buffer, and offers convenience like Magit.

It shows the Git status of the current directory and gives a menu to:

C-x v h (vc-region-history) to view the changes made in the active region.

C-x v O (vc-log-outgoing) to view the changes to be pushed to upstream.

C-x v I (vc-log-incoming) to view the changed to be pulled from upstream.

All above is of course very well documented in the excellent documentation.

Just try it your self!

VC is built-in, no need to install anything, and worthwhile to explore.

Webrings

100% made with ♥ by a human — no cookies, no trackers.
Proud member of the 250kb.club, the no-JS.club, the Blogroll.Club, and the Bukmark.Club.
Don’t let a billionaire’s algorithm control what you read — use an RSS feed reader.