Git Flow is a widely-used workflow for managing feature branches, hotfix branches, and release branches in a Git repository. It helps in organizing the development process and simplifies the release management.

Overview

Git Flow provides a clear structure for your repository, making it easier to manage multiple features, bug fixes, and releases. It consists of the following branches:

  • Master: The main branch that contains the stable codebase.
  • Develop: The branch where new features are developed.
  • Feature: Branches for new features.
  • Release: Branches for preparing a new release.
  • Hotfix: Branches for fixing critical bugs in the production environment.

Getting Started

To get started with Git Flow, you need to install the git-flow tool. You can install it using the following command:

gem install git-flow

Once installed, you can initialize your repository with Git Flow using:

git flow init

This command will guide you through the process of setting up your repository with the necessary branches.

Workflow Steps

Here's a brief overview of the workflow steps:

  1. Develop: Start a new feature branch from develop and work on it.
  2. Feature: Once the feature is complete, push the branch to the remote repository.
  3. Review: Review the feature branch and merge it into develop.
  4. Release: When you're ready to release a new version, start a new release branch from develop.
  5. Hotfix: If a critical bug is found in the production environment, start a hotfix branch from master and fix the issue.
  6. Merge: Merge the release or hotfix branch into master and develop.

Best Practices

  • Always keep the master branch stable and ready for production.
  • Regularly merge develop into master to ensure that master is always up-to-date.
  • Use feature branches for new features to keep the develop branch clean.
  • Review and test features before merging them into develop.

Resources

For more information on Git Flow, you can refer to the following resources:

Git Flow Workflow Diagram