Git & GitHub - Git Flow

Implementing Git Flow Workflow

Git Flow is a branching model that defines a strict, yet effective workflow for managing releases and feature development. This guide covers the implementation of Git Flow, including branch types, commands, and best practices for maintaining a clean and efficient repository.

Git Flow Branches

Main Branches

Git Flow defines two main branches:

• main: Contains the production-ready code. This branch is always stable.
• develop: Contains the latest development changes. This branch is used for integrating features.

Supporting Branches

Git Flow uses supporting branches for different stages of development:

• Feature branches: Used for developing new features. Branch off from develop and merge back into develop.
• Release branches: Used for preparing a new release. Branch off from develop and merge into both develop and main.
• Hotfix branches: Used for fixing bugs in the main branch. Branch off from main and merge into both develop and main.

Setting Up Git Flow

Step 1: Install Git Flow

Install Git Flow on your system:

# Install Git Flow (example for macOS using Homebrew)
$ brew install git-flow

# Install Git Flow (example for Ubuntu)
$ sudo apt-get install git-flow

# Install Git Flow (example for Windows)
$ choco install git-flow-avh
                

Step 2: Initialize Git Flow

Initialize Git Flow in your repository:

# Initialize Git Flow
$ git flow init
                

Follow the prompts to set up the branch naming conventions. The defaults are typically suitable for most projects.

Using Git Flow Commands

Feature Branches

Start a new feature branch, develop the feature, and then finish the feature branch:

# Start a new feature branch
$ git flow feature start new-feature

# Develop the feature and commit changes
$ git add .
$ git commit -m "Develop new feature"

# Finish the feature branch
$ git flow feature finish new-feature
                

Release Branches

Start a release branch, prepare the release, and then finish the release branch:

# Start a new release branch
$ git flow release start 1.0.0

# Prepare the release (e.g., update version number, documentation)
$ git add .
$ git commit -m "Prepare release 1.0.0"

# Finish the release branch
$ git flow release finish 1.0.0
                

Hotfix Branches

Start a hotfix branch, fix the issue, and then finish the hotfix branch:

# Start a new hotfix branch
$ git flow hotfix start fix-bug

# Fix the issue and commit changes
$ git add .
$ git commit -m "Fix bug"

# Finish the hotfix branch
$ git flow hotfix finish fix-bug
                

Best Practices

Follow these best practices when using Git Flow:

• Keep main Stable: Always ensure the main branch is stable and production-ready.
• Use Descriptive Branch Names: Use clear and descriptive names for feature, release, and hotfix branches.
• Regularly Integrate Changes: Regularly merge changes from feature branches into develop to avoid large merge conflicts.
• Automate Testing: Use CI/CD pipelines to automatically test changes in feature and release branches.
• Document Workflow: Document your Git Flow process to ensure all team members understand and follow the workflow.

Summary

This guide covered the implementation of the Git Flow workflow, including branch types, setting up Git Flow, using Git Flow commands, and best practices. By following the Git Flow model, you can maintain a clean and efficient workflow for developing features, preparing releases, and managing hotfixes.