10 Bitbucket Branching Strategy Best Practices

Bitbucket is a popular version control system used by many software development teams. It allows teams to collaborate on code and manage changes to their codebase. One of the most important aspects of using Bitbucket is having a good branching strategy. A good branching strategy helps teams keep their code organized and makes it easier to manage changes.

In this article, we will discuss 10 best practices for creating a Bitbucket branching strategy. We will cover topics such as naming conventions, merging strategies, and more. By following these best practices, teams can ensure their code is well organized and easy to manage.

1. Use feature branches for all new features and bug fixes.

Feature branches allow developers to work on a feature or bug fix in isolation from the main codebase. This means that they can make changes without worrying about breaking existing functionality, and it also makes it easier for them to collaborate with other developers.

Feature branches also help keep the main codebase clean and organized. When a feature is complete, the branch can be merged into the main codebase, ensuring that only tested and approved code is included. This helps reduce bugs and ensures that the codebase remains stable.

2. Merge feature branches into the develop branch as soon as they are ready instead of waiting for a release to be started.

This allows for faster development cycles and more frequent releases.

When a feature branch is merged into the develop branch, it should be tested thoroughly to ensure that all changes are working as expected. This helps prevent bugs from being released in production. Additionally, merging feature branches early also allows developers to identify any conflicts between different features before they become too difficult to resolve.

Finally, merging feature branches into the develop branch ensures that the codebase remains up-to-date with the latest changes. This makes it easier to track progress and identify potential issues quickly.

3. Use pull requests to initiate code review and discussion about a feature or bug fix before merging it into develop.

Pull requests allow developers to review code changes before they are merged into the main branch. This helps ensure that any new features or bug fixes are properly tested and reviewed by other members of the team, which can help reduce errors and improve quality. Pull requests also provide an opportunity for discussion about a feature or bug fix, allowing developers to ask questions and get feedback from others on the team. Finally, pull requests make it easier to track progress on a feature or bug fix, as all comments and discussions related to the change are stored in one place.

4. Always create a new branch from develop when starting work on a new feature.

Creating a new branch from develop ensures that the feature is based on the most up-to-date version of the codebase. This helps to avoid any potential conflicts or issues when merging the feature back into the main branch. It also allows for easier tracking and management of changes, as each feature can be tracked in its own branch.

Additionally, creating a new branch from develop makes it easier to review and test the feature before merging it into the main branch. This helps to ensure that only high quality code is merged into the main branch, which reduces the risk of introducing bugs or other issues.

5. Avoid committing directly on the develop branch.

The develop branch is the main integration branch, and it should only contain code that has been tested and approved. Committing directly to this branch can lead to a lot of problems, such as introducing bugs or breaking existing features.

Instead, developers should create feature branches for each new feature they are working on. This allows them to work independently without affecting the main development branch. Once their feature is complete, they can then merge their feature branch into the develop branch. This ensures that all changes have been properly tested before being merged into the main branch.

6. Create releases from the master branch.

The master branch should always contain the most stable version of your code. This means that any changes made to it must be thoroughly tested and approved before they can be merged into the master branch. By creating releases from the master branch, you ensure that only the most reliable versions of your code are released to customers.

Creating releases from the master branch also helps keep your development process organized. You can easily track which features have been added or removed in each release, making it easier to identify bugs and other issues. Additionally, this practice makes it simpler for developers to collaborate on projects since everyone is working off the same source code.

7. Tag every release with an appropriate version number.

Version numbers are a great way to keep track of the different versions of your code. They help you identify which version is currently in production, and they also make it easier for developers to quickly find the right branch when they need to work on a specific feature or bug fix.

Tagging each release with an appropriate version number also helps ensure that all changes made to the codebase are tracked properly. This makes it much easier to roll back any changes if something goes wrong, as well as to review the history of the project.

8. Do not push any commits made directly on the master branch.

The master branch is the main branch of your repository and should only contain stable, tested code. If you push commits directly to the master branch, it can cause instability in the codebase and lead to unexpected errors or bugs.

Instead, use feature branches for development work. Feature branches are separate from the master branch and allow developers to make changes without affecting the stability of the codebase. Once a feature has been tested and approved, it can be merged into the master branch. This ensures that any changes made to the codebase are safe and reliable.

9. The master branch should always reflect a production-ready state.

The master branch is the main branch of your repository, and it should always contain code that has been tested and verified as working. This means that any changes made to the master branch must be thoroughly reviewed before they are merged in. This ensures that only stable, production-ready code is released into production.

Additionally, having a well-defined branching strategy helps ensure that developers can work on their own branches without worrying about breaking the master branch. This allows for more efficient development cycles and reduces the risk of introducing bugs or other issues into the production environment.

10. Never merge a hotfix back into develop without going through a full release cycle.

When a hotfix is merged back into develop, it can introduce new bugs and regressions that weren’t present in the original version. This could cause major issues for users who are relying on the stable version of your software. To avoid this, you should always go through a full release cycle when merging a hotfix back into develop. This includes testing the code, creating a release branch, and then finally merging the hotfix back into develop. Doing so will ensure that any potential issues with the hotfix are caught before they reach production.