Git Flow
Git Flow is a branching model for Git that provides a structured workflow for managing feature development, releases, and hotfixes in software projects. It defines specific branch types (e.g., main, develop, feature, release, hotfix) and rules for how they interact, aiming to support parallel development and stable releases. This methodology helps teams coordinate work, especially in larger or long-running projects, by enforcing a clear process for integrating changes.
Developers should learn Git Flow when working on projects that require organized release cycles, such as enterprise applications, products with versioned releases, or teams with multiple contributors needing to manage features independently. It is particularly useful for maintaining a stable main branch while allowing ongoing development on a separate develop branch, reducing conflicts and ensuring production-ready code. Use cases include software with scheduled releases, projects needing hotfixes for production issues, or environments where code review and testing are formalized before deployment.