Git Workflows for High-Performing Teams

A well-defined Git workflow is essential for team productivity. Let's explore strategies that help teams collaborate effectively.

Branching Strategies

Trunk-Based Development

Best for experienced teams with good CI/CD:

main
  └── feature/short-lived-branch (lives < 2 days)

Pros: Simple, encourages small changes, fast integration Cons: Requires good test coverage, may not suit all teams

GitHub Flow

Simple branching model:

main
  └── feature/add-login
  └── feature/update-dashboard
  └── fix/user-profile-bug

GitFlow

More structured, good for release cycles:

main
develop
  └── feature/new-feature
  └── release/v1.0
  └── hotfix/critical-bug

Commit Conventions

Use conventional commits for clear history:

feat: add user authentication
fix: resolve login redirect issue
docs: update API documentation
refactor: simplify validation logic
test: add unit tests for auth service

Pull Request Best Practices

Keep PRs Small

• Aim for < 400 lines changed
• One logical change per PR
• Split large features into increments

Write Good Descriptions

Include:

• What the change does
• Why it's needed
• How to test it
• Screenshots for UI changes

Code Review Guidelines

For Reviewers

• Be constructive and specific
• Ask questions instead of demanding
• Approve when good enough, not perfect
• Respond within 24 hours

For Authors

• Respond to all comments
• Don't take feedback personally
• Explain your decisions clearly
• Update promptly

Automation

Automate what you can:

• Linting and formatting checks
• Type checking
• Test runs
• Security scanning
• Preview deployments

Conclusion

The best Git workflow is one your team will follow consistently. Start simple, measure what works, and evolve your practices over time.