diff --git a/subcmds/start.py b/subcmds/start.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4eb3e47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/subcmds/start.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2008 The Android Open Source Project
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import sys
+from command import Command
+from git_command import git
+
+class Start(Command):
+  common = True
+  helpSummary = "Start a new branch for development"
+  helpUsage = """
+%prog <newbranchname> [<project>...]
+
+This subcommand starts a new branch of development that is automatically
+pulled from a remote branch.
+
+It is equivalent to the following git commands:
+
+"git branch --track <newbranchname> m/<codeline>",
+or 
+"git checkout --track -b <newbranchname> m/<codeline>".
+
+All three forms set up the config entries that repo bases some of its
+processing on.  Use %prog or git branch or checkout with --track to ensure
+the configuration data is set up properly.
+
+"""
+
+  def Execute(self, opt, args):
+    if not args:
+      self.Usage()
+
+    nb = args[0]
+    if not git.check_ref_format('heads/%s' % nb):
+      print >>sys.stderr, "error: '%s' is not a valid name" % nb
+      sys.exit(1)
+
+    for project in self.GetProjects(args[1:]):
+      project.StartBranch(nb)