Add --branch option to exegol build

[stellarix]

The needs

Currently, exegol build builds a local image using the Exegol-images default branch (main). In some cases, recent bug fixes or new features are only available on the dev branch for some time before being merged into main.

To build from dev, I currently have to either manually switch the local exegol-images repository to the dev branch or clone a separate repo and use the --build-path option.

Description

It would be useful if exegol build supported selecting the Exegol-images git branch to use for the build and automatically updated it before building.

For example:
exegol build myimage full --branch dev

This would build the image using the latest commits from the Exegol-images dev branch instead of the default branch.

Alternatives

No response

Additional context

No response

[Dramelac]

Hello,

It could be a nice addition for UX friendly shortcut but in the meantime you can already switch branch for your exegol modules using the command: exegol update -v and then select the dev branch when updating the Exegol image source code.

[stellarix]

I tried the exegol update -v mentioned in the docs, but there is no prompt to select branches.

$ exegol update -v  
[*] Exegol Community is currently in version v5.1.11
[*] More about Exegol at: https://exegol.com
[!] Exegol has not been installed via git clone. Skipping wrapper auto-update operation.                                                                                                      
[*] If you have installed Exegol with pipx, check for an update with the command pipx upgrade exegol                                                                                          
[V] /home/ubuntu/.local/share/pipx/venvs/exegol/lib/python3.14/site-packages                                                                                                               
[!] Error while loading local git repository. Skipping all git operation.                                                                                                                     

[*] Updating Exegol resources                                                                                                                                                                 
[*] Git branch main is already up-to-date.                                                                                                                                                    
[V] Loading Exegol images                                                                                                                                                                     
[+] All images already installed are up to date!

$ exegol update -vvv
[*] Exegol Community is currently in version v5.1.11
[*] More about Exegol at: https://exegol.com
[D] Pip installation: On ✔  (pipx)                                                                                                                                                            
[D] Git source installation: Off 🪓                                                                                                                                                           
[D] Host OS: Linux (Kernel)                                                                                                                                                                   
[D] Arch: amd64                                                                                                                                                                               
[D] Raw arch: x86_64                                                                                                                                                                          
[D] Docker desktop: Off 🪓                                                                                                                                                                    
[D] Shell type: Linux                                                                                                                                                                         
[D] Last wrapper update check: 01/08/2026                                                                                                                                                     

[D] Running update module                                                                                                                                                                     
[D] Creating new TaskId.LoadLicense background task.                                                                                                                                          
[!] Exegol has not been installed via git clone. Skipping wrapper auto-update operation.                                                                                                      
[*] If you have installed Exegol with pipx, check for an update with the command pipx upgrade exegol                                                                                          
[V] /home/ubuntu/.local/share/pipx/venvs/exegol/lib/python3.14/site-packages                                                                                                               
[!] Error while loading local git repository. Skipping all git operation.                                                                                                                     

[D] Loading git at /home/ubuntu/.exegol/exegol-resources                                                                                                                                   
[D] Repo path: /home/ubuntu/.exegol/exegol-resources/.git                                                                                                                                  
[D] Git repository successfully loaded                                                                                                                                                        
[*] Updating Exegol resources                                                                                                                                                                 
[D] Fetch flags : 4                                                                                                                                                                           
[D] Fetch note :                                                                                                                                                                              
[D] Fetch old commit : None                                                                                                                                                                   
[D] Fetch remote path : main                                                                                                                                                                  
[D] HEAD UP TO DATE flag detected                                                                                                                                                             
[*] Git branch main is already up-to-date.                                                                                                                                                    
[V] Loading Exegol images                                                                                                                                                                     
[D] Creating new TaskId.RemoteImageList background task.                                                                                                                                      
[D] Creating new TaskId.LocalImageList background task.                                                                                                                                       
[D] Fetch session from datastore                                                                                                                                                              
[D] Listing images from metadata table                                                                                                                                                        
[D] Fetching local image tags, digests (and other attributes)                                                                                                                                 
[D] Fetching local image tags, digests (and other attributes)                                                                                                                                 
[D] Comparing and merging local and remote images data                                                                                                                                        
[D] Searching a match for each image installed                                                                                                                                                
[+] All images already installed are up to date!                                                                                                                                              
[D] Waiting for 1 tasks                                                                                                                                                                       
[D] Waiting for Task-2 background task                                                                                                                                                        
[D] Updating image cache data                                                                                                                                                                 
[D] └── free (version: 3.1.14)  → (remote) sha256:ea29847ca73c566233b2194243ff61c113411328d6e92438aad32bc83ac44b72                                                                            
[D] └── osint (version: 3.1.17) → (remote) sha256:eedaf60229163ba9255e8985d5f7dacebac81e3f424b3998b1eecf2b033ba011                                                                            
[D] └── nightly (version: ad8a5c77)     → (remote) sha256:cb1e2e98cb49c6f241c42ae9d1ce32d7f9ca2e7dc5b53f16ff095f83324174fa                                                                    
[D] └── web (version: 3.1.17)   → (remote) sha256:c57f4dc561ea0cbf3ce23815b26df240a3dfad37d86f7de0ed9c5ef22cc5e781                                                                            
[D] └── light (version: 3.1.17) → (remote) sha256:e0ffe41bb3afad26356b2d43edfedeb138685113a6e30e3f43146c6112e70465                                                                            
[D] └── full (version: 3.1.17)  → (remote) sha256:903585e48e8d0107eba700bba056dbb449319b817081a3022cb6dfd308401868                                                                            
[D] └── ad (version: 3.1.17)    → (remote) sha256:39743c369b3669b32063e7f282933714479ac7daaa4c4f9931d322de9b94e47a                                                                            
[D] All background tasks done