GIT BRANCHING BEST PRACTICES


Release management is one of the most important aspects of a successful Salesforce implementation. Ensuring that the code remains stable while also making sure all new features are properly tested and implemented is a tricky balancing act, and not one to be taken lightly. One way to ensure success is properly managing your Git branching strategies. Developing proper Git branching strategies for your Salesforce Release Management, Salesforce data backup and recovery, and Salesforce security solutions is an important part of achieving smooth and successful deployments.

What is Git Branching?

Simply put, branching is a process used to isolate different development workflows. When a branch is created, it serves as a "copy" of the main branch, called the "master." When any changes are made to the branch, they don't affect the master branch, until and unless the changes are intentionally merged en masse into the master. In this way, multiple workflows can be deconstructed and developed separately, until they are ready to be incorporated back into the master.

Why Is Git Branching Important?

Git branching provides several key benefits to Salesforce implementations. Firstly, it reduces the complex dependencies of the master branch’s codebase. Secondly, it allows easy collaboration between members of the development team, as they can work on their individual branches without impeding on the work of others. Last but not least, it provides an easy “backup” of your codebase in case of any unexpected mistakes or errors.

How to Make the Most Out of Git Branching

When it comes to optimizing your branching strategies for successful Salesforce Release Management, there are several important points to consider. Firstly, use different branches for different development tasks. This will ensure that branches are dedicated to different tasks, making it easier to troubleshoot any problems while also allowing easy collaboration across multiple developers.

Secondly, use descriptive names and tags for each branch. This will make it much easier to track what changes have been made when looking back at past branches. Lastly, don’t forget to regularly merge any new changes into the master. This will keep the codebase organized and up to date.

Conclusion

Git branching is an invaluable tool when it comes to handling Salesforce Release Management. By properly organizing and managing branches, teams can ensure that codebases remain organized, up to date, and troubleshooting mistakes is as easy as possible. Dedicating branches to specific development tasks, using descriptive names and tags, and regularly merging new changes into the master are the keys to successful branching. With these points in mind, you can ensure your branches are working in the best interest of your organization.

Topics:

SFDC best practices

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Salesforce tools

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Flosum

“Flosum is the best native release management tool that you will fall in love with. I have gained confidence in my role and has given me the ability to view release management from a whole different perspective.”

Faizan Ali

Faizan Ali
Salesforce Consultant at Turnitin