Git Workflow & Branch Management Best Practices

# Git Workflow & Branch Management Rules

## Branch Strategy
- Use a consistent branching strategy (Git Flow, GitHub Flow, or GitLab Flow)
- Main/master branch should always be deployable
- Use feature branches for all new development
- Implement branch protection rules for main branches
- Delete merged branches to keep repository clean
- Use descriptive branch names (feature/user-auth, bugfix/payment-error)

## Commit Best Practices
- Write clear, descriptive commit messages
- Use conventional commit format: type(scope): description
- Types: feat, fix, docs, style, refactor, test, chore
- Keep commits focused on a single change
- Commit frequently with small, logical changes
- Use interactive rebase to clean up commit history before merging

## Code Review Process
- All code must be reviewed before merging to main
- Use pull/merge requests for code review
- Require at least one approval from a senior developer
- Include context and testing instructions in PR descriptions
- Address all review comments before merging
- Use automated tests as part of review process

## Merge Strategies
- Use merge commits for feature integration (preserves branch history)
- Use squash merges for small features (clean linear history)
- Use rebase for updating feature branches (avoid merge conflicts)
- Never force push to shared branches
- Use merge queues for high-traffic repositories

## Collaboration Guidelines
- Always pull latest changes before starting new work
- Resolve merge conflicts promptly
- Communicate breaking changes to the team
- Use semantic versioning for releases
- Tag releases consistently
- Maintain a clean, informative git history

## Security & Access Control
- Use SSH keys or personal access tokens for authentication
- Implement proper access controls (read, write, admin)
- Regular audit of repository access
- Use signed commits for additional security
- Never commit sensitive information (use .gitignore)

## Automation & Integration
- Set up automated testing on pull requests
- Use pre-commit hooks for code quality checks
- Implement automated deployment from specific branches
- Use issue/ticket linking in commit messages
- Set up automated notifications for important events

## Repository Management
- Maintain a comprehensive README
- Use proper .gitignore files
- Implement consistent file and folder structure
- Regular repository cleanup and maintenance
- Archive or delete unused repositories