In the realm of DevOps, the Gitflow Workflow is a branching model for Git, created by Vincent Driessen. It is a consistent framework for managing larger projects and has the capacity to provide a robust framework for managing larger, more complex projects. Gitflow is a merge-based solution, meaning it uses a dedicated branch to prepare for production releases.
Gitflow Workflow is a scalable model that addresses the needs of large projects and helps in maintaining the stability of code and the efficiency of the development process. It is a comprehensive model that provides guidelines for every situation that may occur in a project, from development to release.
Definition
The Gitflow Workflow is a branching model for Git that defines a strict branching model designed around the project release. It assigns specific roles to different branches and defines how and when they should interact. This workflow uses two parallel long-lived branches to record the history of the project, namely, 'master' and 'develop'.
The 'master' branch stores the official release history, and the 'develop' branch serves as an integration branch for features. Each new feature resides in its own branch, which can be pushed to the 'develop' branch when the feature is complete.
Branches in Gitflow
The Gitflow Workflow defines a strict branching model, designed around the project release cycle. It includes the following types of branches: 'master', 'develop', 'feature', 'release', and 'hotfix' branches.
The 'master' branch reflects a production-ready state, the 'develop' branch is a place for integrating different features, 'feature' branches are used to develop new features for the upcoming or a distant future release, 'release' branches support preparation of a new production release, and 'hotfix' branches are meant for quick bug fixes.
Role of Each Branch
Each branch in the Gitflow Workflow has a specific role and purpose. The 'master' branch is the main branch where the source code of HEAD always reflects a production-ready state. It is the branch that gets deployed on the production server.
The 'develop' branch is the branch where the source code of HEAD always reflects a state with the latest delivered development changes for the next release. This is the branch where any new features should branch off from and merge back into.
Explanation
The Gitflow Workflow begins with a 'develop' branch taken from 'master'. When a new feature is to be included, a new 'feature' branch is created from 'develop'. Once the feature is tested and validated, it is merged back into the 'develop' branch. The 'master' branch remains untouched during this process.
When the 'develop' branch has acquired enough features for a release, a 'release' branch is created off 'develop'. This new branch will exist to start the next release cycle, so no new features can be added after this point—only bug fixes, documentation generation, and other release-oriented tasks should go in this branch.
Feature Branches
Feature branches are used to develop new features for the upcoming or a distant future release. When starting development of a feature, the target release in which this feature will be incorporated may well be unknown at that point. The essence of a feature branch is that it exists as long as the feature is in development, but will eventually be merged back into 'develop' (to definitely add the new feature to the upcoming release) or discarded (in case of a disappointing experiment).
Feature branches typically exist in developer repos only, not in origin. They are created from 'develop' and must merge back into 'develop'. They should never interact with the 'master' branch.
Release Branches
Once 'develop' has acquired enough features for a release (or a predetermined release date is approaching), you fork a release branch off 'develop'. Creating this branch starts the next release cycle, so no new features can be added after this point—only bug fixes, documentation generation, and other release-oriented tasks should go in this branch.
Once it’s ready to ship, the release gets merged into 'master' and tagged with a version number. In addition, it should be merged back into 'develop', which may have progressed since the release was initiated.
History
The Gitflow Workflow was first proposed by Vincent Driessen in 2010. Driessen, a Netherlands-based software developer, introduced the workflow in a blog post, where he detailed the challenges of developing software in a team environment and proposed the Gitflow Workflow as a solution.
Since its introduction, the Gitflow Workflow has been widely adopted by many software development teams and organizations around the world. It has been praised for its clear structure and defined roles for each branch, making it easier for teams to collaborate and manage larger projects.
Use Cases
The Gitflow Workflow is particularly useful in projects where there is a scheduled release cycle and the codebase needs to be in a release-ready state at all times. It allows for parallel development of multiple features and makes it easy to prepare for production releases.
It is also beneficial in projects where multiple developers are working simultaneously, as it provides a clear structure for collaboration. By assigning specific roles to different branches, the Gitflow Workflow ensures that the codebase remains clean and well-organized.
Large Scale Projects
For large scale projects that involve multiple developers and require parallel development on various features, Gitflow is an ideal workflow. It provides a robust framework that can handle a large number of branches and ensures that the development process remains smooth and efficient.
Moreover, it helps in maintaining the stability of the code. With a defined structure and strict branching rules, Gitflow minimizes the chances of conflicts and keeps the 'master' branch in a production-ready state.
Continuous Delivery
In a continuous delivery environment, where changes are released to customers as soon as they are done, Gitflow can be very beneficial. It ensures that the 'master' branch always reflects a production-ready state, making it easy to release new changes quickly.
Furthermore, with its 'hotfix' branches, Gitflow allows for quick bug fixes and patches, ensuring that any issues in the production code can be resolved swiftly and efficiently.
Examples
Consider a software development team working on a large project with a scheduled release cycle. They decide to use the Gitflow Workflow to manage their project. They begin by creating a 'develop' branch from 'master'. When a new feature is to be developed, a new 'feature' branch is created from 'develop'. Once the feature is tested and validated, it is merged back into the 'develop' branch.
When the 'develop' branch has acquired enough features for a release, a 'release' branch is created. This branch exists to start the next release cycle, so no new features can be added after this point. Once the release is ready, it is merged into 'master' and tagged with a version number. It is also merged back into 'develop', which may have progressed since the release was initiated.
Example: Feature Branches
Let's consider a specific example of using feature branches in the Gitflow Workflow. A developer is working on a new feature for an upcoming release. They create a new 'feature' branch from 'develop' and begin working on the feature.
Once the feature is complete, it is tested and validated. If it passes all tests and validations, it is merged back into the 'develop' branch. This process ensures that the 'develop' branch always contains the latest delivered development changes for the next release.
Example: Release Branches
Now, let's consider an example of using release branches in the Gitflow Workflow. The 'develop' branch has acquired enough features for a release. A new 'release' branch is created from 'develop'. This branch exists to start the next release cycle, so no new features can be added after this point.
Once the release is ready, it is merged into 'master' and tagged with a version number. It is also merged back into 'develop', which may have progressed since the release was initiated. This process ensures that the 'master' branch always reflects a production-ready state.