+ git checkout "$bran" | $TO_SPLITTER
+ promote_pipe_return 0
+ test_or_die "git switching checkout to remote branch: $bran"
+
+ state=$(check_branch_state "$bran")
+ echo "=> branch '$bran' state is: $state"
+
+ remote_branch_info=$(git ls-remote --heads origin $bran 2>/dev/null)
+ if [ ! -z "$remote_branch_info" ]; then
+ # we are pretty sure the remote branch does exist.
+ git pull --no-ff origin "$bran" | $TO_SPLITTER
+ promote_pipe_return 0
+ fi