git-workflow

Git workflow best practices. Use when asked about git branching, commits, or merge strategy. [Sections: branching, commits, merging, hotfix]

Branching

Use feature branches off main/develop: git checkout -b feature/my-feature develop Name branches descriptively: feature/ — new functionality fix/ — bug fixes chore/ — maintenance, deps, config Keep branches short-lived. Rebase onto target before merging.

Commits

Write clear commit messages: Line 1: imperative summary under 72 chars Line 3+: explain WHY, not what (the diff shows what) One logical change per commit. Don't mix refactors with features. Use conventional commits if the project uses them: feat: add user search fix: handle null avatar URL chore: bump eslint to v9

Merging

Prefer squash merges for feature branches (clean history). Use merge commits for long-lived branches (preserves context). Always pull/rebase before merging to avoid unnecessary merge commits. Delete branches after merging. Run CI before merging — never merge a red build.

Hotfix

For urgent production fixes:

1. Branch off main: git checkout -b hotfix/fix-name main
2. Make the minimal fix
3. Test thoroughly
4. Merge to main AND develop/release
5. Tag the release Keep hotfix scope minimal — fix only the immediate issue.