What is git Branching?

Git branching is a powerful feature of the Git version control system that allows developers to create divergent lines of development within a project. Each branch represents a different line of development, enabling developers to work on features, bug fixes, or experiments independently without affecting the main codebase. Branching facilitates collaboration, parallel development, and the integration of new features or fixes into the main codebase when they are ready.

A solid low-level Git branching strategy is crucial for effective collaboration and code management. Here’s a detailed guide to help you establish a robust branching strategy:

Main Branches:

• Master Branch: Represents the production-ready code. Only commits that are thoroughly tested and ready for deployment should be merged into this branch.
• Develop Branch: Serves as the integration branch for ongoing development work. Features and fixes are merged into this branch for comprehensive testing before reaching the master branch.

Feature Branches:

• Naming Convention: Feature branches should have clear, descriptive names reflecting the intended feature or task.
• Creation: Developers create a new branch from develop for each feature or task.
• Work Process:
  • Regular commits to track progress.
  • Frequent rebasing with develop to incorporate the latest changes.
  • Once the feature is complete and tested, it’s merged back into develop.

Release Branches:

• Creation: When develop is deemed stable for release, a release branch is created from develop.
• Code Freeze: No new features are added to the release branch. Only bug fixes and release-related tasks are allowed.
• Testing: Rigorous testing is conducted on the release branch. Any bugs found are fixed directly on the release branch.
• Merge into Master: Once the release is thoroughly tested and ready for deployment, it’s merged into master. Tag the commit with the release version.
• Merge into Develop: The changes from the release branch are merged back into develop to ensure that any bug fixes are incorporated into ongoing development.

Hotfix Branches:

• Creation: Hotfix branches are created directly from master when urgent fixes are needed in the production environment.
• Isolation: Hotfixes should only address the specific issue and not include additional changes.
• Testing: Rigorous testing is conducted to validate the fix.
• Merge into Master and Develop: Once the hotfix is tested and ready, it’s merged into both master and develop to ensure that the fix is present in both environments.

Pull Requests:

• Code Review: All changes, whether from feature branches, release branches, or hotfix branches, should go through a thorough code review process.
• Automated Tests: Integrate automated testing into the pull request process to ensure code quality and functionality.

Documentation:

• Commit Messages: Encourage descriptive and meaningful commit messages to enhance understanding and traceability.
• Readme Updates: Keep the project’s documentation, especially the README, up to date with relevant information about the branching strategy.

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD):

• Automated Builds: Implement CI/CD pipelines to automate builds, tests, and deployments, ensuring consistency and efficiency in the development lifecycle.

This branching strategy provides a structured and efficient workflow, promoting collaboration and code quality while facilitating the release process.