A Guide to DevOps Branching Strategies

copado.com/resources/blog/devops-branching-strategies

Team Copado

‍Introduction
‍

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, DevOps are finding it increasingly necessary to
streamline their software delivery lifecycles. One key aspect of an optimized and streamlined
DevOps process is branching, which involves creating separate parallel code bases for
different features or bug fixes. Branching can be a powerful way to manage changes and
ensure that teams can work on separate components without interfering with one another.
Even so, there are several different branching strategies teams must consider, and choosing
the right one will determine a project’s success or failure.

In this guide, we will explore the fundamental principles of DevOps branching strategies, the
types of branching models available, the pros and cons of each model, best practices for
implementing effective branching workflows, and tools for managing branching models in
DevOps. Let’s get to it.

‍Defining Branching in DevOps

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Put simply, branching is the practice of creating new code branches for different versions of a
software project. It's an efficient way to organize code changes into logical groupings that
can be managed and merged back together. In DevOps, branching is critical to managing the
flow of code changes between different environments, team members, and software versions
while allowing developers to work on separate features simultaneously without interfering
with each other's work. In short, a successful branching strategy results in a higher rate of
efficiency.

‍Key Principles of Branching Strategies

‍

Several fundamental principles should be considered when choosing a branching strategy

suitable for your team. First, you must strike a balance between isolation and integration.

Firstly, isolation allows developers to work independently on different features but can also
lead to conflicts when merging back into the mainline development codebase.

Integration ensures that changes are continuously integrated with the main codebase.
However, this can also lead to conflicts when multiple developers are working on the same
feature.

Another critical principle is simplicity. Complex DevOps branching strategies can be

challenging to manage and will occasionally lead to confusion among team members.
Choosing a straightforward and easy-to-understand approach for everyone on the team is
vital.

Types of Branching Models

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Several types of branching models can be used in DevOps, each with associated pros and
cons. One of the most commonly used branching strategies is Trunk-Based Development,
which involves keeping a single main codebase and creating short-lived branches for specific
features or bug fixes. This model emphasizes continuous integration and ensures that
components are integrated quickly into the main codebase.

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Another widely used model is Feature Branching. This form of branching permits the
creation of separate, long-lived branches for each feature while also allowing developers to
work independently on different parts. However, it’s worth noting that feature branching can
lead to conflicts when merging back into the main codebase. Other models include Release
Branching, the centralized model, and Git Workflow in DevOps.

Pros and Cons of Branching Strategies

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The benefits of DevOps branching strategies are numerous, including easier code
management, better collaboration, more straightforward code review, and the ability to work
on multiple versions simultaneously. However, branching can also result in unnecessary
conflicts and frustrating merge issues. Without the proper tools and processes, DevOps
teams will struggle. Below, we’ve outlined some specific pros and cons that apply to the two
most common models: Trunk-Based Development and Feature Branching.

Implementing Effective Branching Workflows

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Implementing effective branching workflows results in a smooth, straightforward, and
refreshingly efficient development process. That said, the choice of branching strategy
significantly impacts collaboration, code stability, and release management in DevOps
teams.

One critical consideration is aligning the branching model with a project’s needs. For
example, Trunk-Based Development (TBD) offers simplicity and encourages continuous
integration by having all developers work on a single main branch. Conversely, the Feature
Branch Model allows for isolated development but requires meticulous management to
prevent long-lived branches from causing integration complexities.

Assessing the team's size, project complexity, and release cadence is pivotal to choosing the
most suitable branching strategy. Success in this area comes from fostering a culture of
disciplined branching practices, frequent code integration, and robust Salesforce automated
testing. Effective branching workflows also balance the need for collaboration and isolation
while facilitating a seamless development cycle and maintaining code stability. If your
DevOps team can follow this methodology, consistent success will be just around the corner.

Best Practices for DevOps Branching

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There are several best practice principles to follow when conducting branching in DevOps,
all of which increase the chances of both short and long-term success. These include:

Short-Lived Feature Branches

If your team is using feature branches, emphasize their short lifespan. Always encourage
developers to merge changes frequently into the main branch to reduce integration
complexities.

Release Branches and Versioning

Create release branches when preparing for production deployments. These branches help
stabilize the codebase for release while allowing ongoing development to continue on the
main branch.

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Documentation and Communication

Maintain clear documentation outlining DevOps branching strategies and guidelines and
encourage effective communication among team members to align on branching workflows
and changes.

Automated Testing

Implement robust automated testing suites for each commit or merge to the main branch.
This ensures the mainline development code remains stable, prevents regressions, and
identifies issues early.

Iterative Improvement

Continuously evaluate and refine branching strategies based on team feedback, efficiency
metrics, and evolving project requirements. Moving forward, embrace a culture of continuous
improvement in your team’s DevOps practices.

Pull/Merge Requests and Code Reviews

Mandate code reviews as part of the merge process. Use pull or merge requests to facilitate
reviews, guaranteeing code quality and knowledge sharing within the team.

Monitoring and Rollback Procedures

Implement monitoring tools and rollback procedures to address issues introduced by new
changes swiftly. This ensures the ability to revert problematic changes without significant
disruptions.

Adopting these best practices in DevOps branching fosters a cohesive and streamlined
development pipeline, promoting collaboration, stability, and agility. The result is the delivery
of high-quality software with higher efficiency and reliability. When deep in the heart of
development, this added cutting-edge is invaluable.

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Tools for Managing Branching in DevOps
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Various tools are available that help delivery teams implement effective version control
strategies and branching models in DevOps. These tools include:

Version control
Repository tools (such as Github, Bitbucket, and ADO)
DevOps tools (such as Jenkins or Copado)

All of these systems serve various purposes within the DevOps lifecycle, from version control
and collaborative development to Salesforce business process automation and deployment.
DevOps teams can then build, test, and deliver software with unparalleled effectiveness. The
selection of tools often depends on specific project needs too, including team preferences
and integration requirements within the DevOps pipeline.

Conclusion
‍

No matter the size or complexity of your project, proper branching and version control
strategies will help you deliver the highest-quality software quickly and reliably. By leveraging
the right tools within their DevOps pipeline, teams can produce efficient delivery with minimal
risk. With all that said, always take the time to evaluate each of your options carefully and
assess which will best meet your needs while following our best practices for branching in
DevOps.

If you’re interested in integrating high-performance DevOps tools into your branching

models, as well as CI/CD for Salesforce, Copado could be the perfect choice for you.

Book a demo with one of our expert team members today, who will take you through some
prime examples of our unique Salesforce DevOps solution.

About The Author

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Cassia Wallach
Product Marketing Manager, CICD

With a background in Salesforce Delivery Consulting at IBM, Cassia has had a lot of
experience with the value that a good DevOps process and strategy can bring to a team and
the pain that process inefficiencies and decentralized tooling can cause. Since joining
Copado as a Sales Engineer almost two years ago, the author has worked closely with
numerous prospects - many of whom had encountered challenges from out-of-sync
Sandboxes. Drawing on her Salesforce knowledge and hands-on experience with Sandbox
management, the author provides readers with practical tips and advice on revamping,
streamlining, and maintaining synchronicity throughout their pipeline(s).

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