Git Flow

Git Flow is a popular branching model and extension for Git that helps programmers streamline their workflow and manage software releases effectively. It provides a set of high-level branching guidelines that enable seamless collaboration within a development team.

Installation

First, ensure that Git is installed on your system. If not, download and install it from the official website (https://git-scm.com/).

Next, open a command prompt or terminal and execute the following command to install Git Flow:

$ brew install git-flow

Getting Started

Once Git Flow is installed, navigate to your Git repository and initialize Git Flow by executing the following command:

$ git flow init -d

This command initializes Git Flow with default branch names and version tag prefixes. The -d flag stands for "default" and automatically accepts the suggested names.

The Git Flow Workflow

Git Flow introduces several branch types to organize your development process effectively:

• Main Branches

  • master: Represents the stable production code.
  • develop: Serves as the integration branch for new features.

• Supporting Branches

  • feature: Used for developing new features. Branch off from develop and merge back into develop. Prefixed with feature/.
  • release: Used for preparing new releases. Branch off from develop and merge into both develop and master. Prefixed with release/.
  • hotfix: Used to quickly fix production issues. Branch off from master and merge into both develop and master. Prefixed with hotfix/.

Example Workflow

1. Start a new feature:

$ git flow feature start <feature-name>

2. Finish a feature:

$ git flow feature finish <feature-name>

3. Start a new release:

$ git flow release start <release-version>

4. Finish a release:

$ git flow release finish <release-version>

5. Start a hotfix:

$ git flow hotfix start <hotfix-name>

6. Finish a hotfix:

$ git flow hotfix finish <hotfix-name>

Summary

Git Flow is a powerful branching model that enhances Git's capabilities, making it easier to manage software releases and collaborate effectively. By using Git Flow, programmers can streamline their workflow, isolate new features and bug fixes, and achieve a more organized development process.