title: Why is "git branch" silent in new repositories?
body: <p>When you create a new repository and run <code>git branch</code>, it exits silently. For example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$ mkdir /tmp/foo; cd /tmp/foo; git init
  Initialized empty Git repository in /tmp/foo/.git/
  
  $ git branch
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Why doesn't the command provide any output, or show the master branch?</p>