Branching strategies

Learning objectives: compare Git branching models, choose the right one for the release cadence, and keep branches short-lived to reduce conflicts.

Overview

How teams structure branches so the main line stays healthy and features flow to release predictably — the strategic layer above raw Git mechanics.

Units

  • Trunk-based development
  • GitFlow (feature/release/hotfix branches)
  • Choosing a strategy for your release cadence

Key terms & commands

trunk/main · feature branch · release/* · hotfix/* · fast-forward · merge · rebase

Hands-on

Create short-lived branches off main, merge frequently, and observe that conflicts grow as branches age.

Exam focus

Trunk-based ↔ continuous delivery; GitFlow ↔ planned versioned releases; short branches = fewer merge conflicts.

Path MOC · get-started-with-git · pull-requests-and-code-review