GIT Branching and Merging: Everything You Need to Know About It

As you know GIT is a version control system that allows you to track changes and have all the history of your codebase. In fact, you can review changes, go back to the history, fix errors, and enjoy many more features. Creating branches and merging codes is one of them.

In the GIT version control system, you can create a separate code line and later merge it with the actual codebase using the branching and merging feature. It allows you to implement your ideas and enjoy new features without harming your project anyway.

Let's explore everything about Git branching and merging in this article.

What is a GIT Branch and its Merging?

A GIT branch allows you to promote a parallel development to your actual project. Meanwhile, you can do experiments on that code line development, implement new features, and see which change is in your favor. If you find something up to mark, you can adopt for.

While merging refers to the adaptation or merge of experiments you have done on branches in your original project's database. As branching and merging offer great value, they have higher importance among developers worldwide.

Importance of GIT Version Control Branching and Merging

Branching and merging in a version control system can help you in several ways as a developer. We described a few core points on how GIT branching and merging is beneficial to you.

New Features Implementation

Going with GIT branches and their merging can help you implement new features to your projects in a mannered way. We all know that sometimes it's risky to implement new features directly into your projects because it might be risky. We don't make any proper statement about output results.

Making a parallel development branch and implementing new software features for testing is the best way in this regard. Test new features first, and then implement them in your actual project if you find them beneficial.

Code Testing

Similar to testing new features with the software, you can also test your new codes using branching and merging by Git. Create a parallel development branch, add the codes here before directly adding them to the original project's database, and see how they work.

If they are compatible with your existing codes and database, add them. Otherwise, you can use other GIT tools to check any errors in your codes and fix them.

Easy Bugs Fixing

We all face various errors and bugs in our development projects, isn't it?

Sometimes, it takes much more time to tackle these issues. If you're using GIT branching and merging features, solving project issues can be a handy task for you. Meanwhile, you can make parallel branches, apply your codes, find bugs if there are any, and solve them before you merge the branch with the actual project.

Reduce Conflicts

Git branch & merge system reduce your conflicts and don't mix up the things. For example, if you and the co-developer working with you on the shared project have mistakenly edited the same piece of code, git will not create a mess and efficiently maintain the database by using suitable codes.

Read also: Everything You Need to Know About the GitLab Software

Teamwork Collaboration

The most interesting feature and benefit you can enjoy using the GIT branch and merging.

You can split your whole codebase into different branches and assign them to the different co-developers with you on the same project. After the completion of all the branches successfully, you can merge them to introduce a whole codebase.

That's how this feature best promotes teamwork and collaboration.

Types of GIT Branching: The Main 4 Types!

GIT branches serve different purposes in software development. Let us describe the 4 branching workflows for Git. You can go with any type which you find suitable for your project.

See below.

Feature Branching

It's the type of GIT branch that developers use to create and introduce new features in projects. Feature branch type of Git is mostly used by the project owners who regularly launch new features. Branches are created, features are developed by the experts, and then merged with the codebases in it.

Here's a quick guide on how you create a new feature branch and merge it:

1.   Using the command "git checkout -b feature/new-feature" create a new git feature branch

2.   Develop the feature you want to introduce in your project

3.   Regularly update the feature branch using the command "git checkout feature/new-feature git pull origin main" to ensure that your changes are compatible with the main branch

4.   Review your codes and merge them into the main branch

5.   Delete the feature branch after merging it with the main branch

Pay attention – where the Git feature branch system has lots of benefits, it also has some advantages like it is time-consuming, complex to manage, and causes merging conflicts sometimes.

Release Branching

In release branching, you create a new branch as a release branch to check and test your software for better stabilization and bug fixes. Without disturbing your online software development, you create a new branch, fix any errors, merge it with the main branch, tag commit mark it as release, and delete the branch after it.

That's how you create a release branch.

Read also: What is Git and Version Control System? Complete Beginners Guide

Hotfix Branching

In this, we create a quick branch which is mainly developed to point out or address critical issues in software development. Expert developers resolve these issues in this branch and then merge it with the main branch to avoid disturbing the main branch.

Here's the quick Hotfix Branch Workflow:

1.   Create a new Hotfix branch using the command "git checkout -b hotfix/1.0.1" We recommend you replace the 1.0.1 with the version number for the hotfix

2.   In the Hotfix branch, solve the critical issues and merge them in the main codebase

3.   Now, tag the commit and delete the branch after merging it with the main branch

Bug Fix Branching

This branch type is quiet similar to Hotfix. But the only difference is that it is not made in emergencies while it is made to address non-critical issues. The procedure for developing this branch is the same as all others. You create the branch using the appropriate command, fix bugs, merge it with the main branch and that's all.

What is a Branch Strategy? Some Best Git Branching Strategies

A branch strategy is defined as the strategy that software developers make and adopt to write codes for their software, merge with the main branch, deploy the code, address the issues, fix the bugs, and finally release the software.

There are three common Git branching strategies GitHub Flow, GitLab Flow, and GitFlow. Of course, advantages and disadvantages totally depend upon the strategy you choose.

Let's talk about each Git strategy in detail.

GitFlow Branching Strategy

GitFlow defines the best Git repositories branching model and helps you better organize codes, maintain changes and workflows, and much more. There are various branches lies under this strategy:

1.   Master

2.   Develop

3.   Feature

4.   Release

5.   Hotfix

Where this strategy allows for parallel development, there are also some disadvantages. Sometimes, it causes integration errors and complex tag management.

GitHub Flow Branching Strategy

GitHub flow is the best branching strategy when you're working on smaller projects. This branching strategy is introduced by GitHub and works best on this platform. You might face difficulties when you collaborate with third parties using this branching strategy.

The best thing about this strategy is that it is very simple and easy to use & implement. You don't need to tackle complex interfaces while going with it. But don't go with it if your project is large and you don't want to get into fixing the bugs all the time.

GitLab Flow Branching Strategy

GitLab flow is somehow similar to GitHub flow. It is hosted by GitLab and helps you with a flexible approach and rapid delivery. To simplify your software development procedure you can use this workflow strategy.

But it doesn't provide you with the versioning structure at all. In fact, you might face integration challenges and sometimes frequent pipeline failures.

We strongly recommend you don't use any Git branching and merging strategy if you don't know how to properly do that and tackle technicalities in the end. But don't worry if you're not expert enough because we are here to help you.

See how.

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Conclusion

In the above article, we have discussed everything about Git branching and merging. There are three types of branching strategies we discussed above along with the complete implementation strategies, advantages and disadvantages, and more.

You can now connect with RemotePlatz for more information and to hire talented remote developers across the world.