What is the Git Flow approach to development?

Git Flow is a popular branching model for Git that sets a clear structure and rules for managing code versions. It helps a team develop new features, test releases, and ship updates quickly without chaos in the repository.

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#The core idea

Git Flow splits the whole development process into several types of branches, each playing its own role in the product's lifecycle.

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#Main branches

1. main (or master)

• the stable branch with the current working version of the product.
• everything that lands here is ready for production.

2. develop

• the main development branch.
• all new features land here before release.

3. feature/*

• branches for individual tasks or new features.
• created from develop, and merged back once finished. Example: feature/login-api.

4. release/*

• release preparation branches: stabilization, tests, documentation.
• merged into main and develop once finished.

5. hotfix/*

• branches for urgent fixes in production.
• created from main, and merged back into both branches (main and develop) once fixed.

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#The workflow

1. A feature branch is created → the feature is developed → it's merged into develop.
2. When a set of features is ready, a release branch is created.
3. After testing, the release is merged into main and tagged with a version (for example, v1.2.0).
4. hotfix branches are created as needed for urgent bugs.

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#Advantages

• Clear structure and predictability.
• Safe work with multiple versions of the product.
• Simple releases and fast hotfixes.

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#Conclusion

Git Flow is a disciplined branching model that keeps development organized. Each branch has a specific purpose, and the whole process is transparent and controlled: from idea to production.