Git Flow

Git Flow is a branching model for Git that helps teams manage their codebase and collaborate effectively. It provides a set of guidelines and best practices for organizing branches and releases in a Git repository.

Branches

Git Flow defines several types of branches:

• Master: The main branch that represents the production-ready code.
• Develop: The branch where all the new features are integrated and tested before being merged into the master branch.
• Feature: Branches created for developing new features. They are based on the develop branch and merged back into it once the feature is complete.
• Release: Branches created for preparing a new release. They are based on the develop branch and merged into both the master and develop branches once the release is ready.
• Hotfix: Branches created for fixing critical issues in the production code. They are based on the master branch and merged back into both the master and develop branches.

Workflow

The typical workflow in Git Flow is as follows:

1. Create a new feature branch from the develop branch: git flow feature start <feature-name>.
2. Work on the feature and commit your changes.
3. Finish the feature and merge it back into the develop branch: git flow feature finish <feature-name>.
4. Create a new release branch from the develop branch: git flow release start <release-version>.
5. Perform any necessary final adjustments and testing on the release branch.
6. Finish the release and merge it into both the master and develop branches: git flow release finish <release-version>.
7. Create a new hotfix branch from the master branch: git flow hotfix start <hotfix-version>.
8. Fix the critical issue on the hotfix branch and commit your changes.
9. Finish the hotfix and merge it back into both the master and develop branches: git flow hotfix finish <hotfix-version>.

A successful Git branching model