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Gitflow: Why, How, and When to Use It

What is Gitflow?​

Gitflow is a branching model for Git, introduced by Vincent Driessen, designed to manage releases, features, and hotfixes in software projects. It provides a standardized workflow structure that facilitates collaboration, parallel development, and clear version management.

Why Use Gitflow?​

  • Organized Development: Separates development, production, and experimental work.
  • Parallel Feature Development: Multiple developers can work on features without interfering with each other.
  • Stable Releases: Ensures the main branch is always stable and ready for release.
  • Efficient Hotfixes: Allows urgent bug fixes without disrupting ongoing development.

Gitflow Branches Overview​

  • master/main: Production-ready code; only updated via completed releases and hotfixes.
  • develop: Integration branch for features; reflects the latest delivered development changes.
  • feature/*: Used for developing new features; branched from develop, merged back to develop.
  • release/*: Prepares a new production release; branched from develop, merged into both develop and master.
  • hotfix/*: Urgent fixes for production; branched from master, merged into both develop and master.

How to Use Gitflow​

1. Install Gitflow (Optional Tool)​

  • On macOS: brew install git-flow-avh
  • On Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install git-flow
  • Or use manually with Git commands.

2. Initialize Gitflow​

git flow init

You’ll be prompted to define branch names (defaults: master & develop).

3. Feature Branches​

Start a new feature:

git flow feature start my-feature

Finish a feature:

git flow feature finish my-feature

Merges into develop.

4. Release Branches​

Start a release:

git flow release start 1.0.0

Finish a release:

git flow release finish 1.0.0

Merges into master and develop, tags the release.

5. Hotfix Branches​

Start a hotfix:

git flow hotfix start fix-critical-bug

Finish a hotfix:

git flow hotfix finish fix-critical-bug

Merges into master and develop, tags the hotfix.

When to Use Gitflow​

  • Team Projects: Ideal for teams with multiple developers and parallel workstreams.
  • Release-driven Development: When you need structured releases, versioning, and hotfixes.
  • Long-lived Projects: Suitable for projects with ongoing development and maintenance.

When NOT to Use Gitflow​

  • Simple Projects: Overkill for solo or small, short-lived projects.
  • Continuous Deployment: Not ideal for projects requiring frequent, automated deployments to production.

Summary​

Gitflow is a powerful workflow for managing complex software projects, enabling structured branching, parallel feature development, and efficient release/hotfix handling. It’s best for teams and projects with well-defined release cycles and ongoing maintenance.