What is Git Workflow?
A defined strategy for how a team uses Git branches, commits, code reviews, and merges to manage code changes. Common workflows include trunk-based development and GitFlow.
In plain English
A git workflow is like traffic rules for a highway system. Without agreed-upon rules (which lane to use, when to merge, how to signal), everyone would crash into each other. The workflow ensures changes flow smoothly from development to production without collisions.
How it works
A git workflow defines how developers create branches, name them, make commits, request reviews, and merge changes. In trunk-based development, developers make small, frequent commits to the main branch. In feature branching (more common for small teams), developers create branches for each feature, submit pull requests for review, and merge after approval. Both approaches aim to keep the codebase stable.
Why it matters for AI-built apps
AI coding sessions can generate large amounts of code quickly. Without a git workflow, you end up with massive, unreviewable commits, broken main branches, and lost work. A simple branching workflow lets you isolate AI-generated changes, review them before merging, and easily roll back problematic code. It's essential for maintaining control over an AI-assisted codebase.
Common issues
Committing directly to main without review, enormous commits that mix multiple features and bug fixes, vague commit messages ('fixed stuff'), not using branches at all, merge conflicts from long-lived branches, not pulling main before starting new work, and no .gitignore causing environment files and node_modules to be committed.
Best practices
Create a branch for each feature or fix. Keep branches short-lived (hours to a few days). Write clear commit messages describing what and why. Use pull requests even for solo projects (for self-review). Never commit directly to main. Keep commits small and focused. Set up a .gitignore immediately. Use conventional commits (feat:, fix:, chore:) for clear history.
Frequently asked questions
What's the simplest git workflow for a solo founder?
Create a branch for each feature (feature/add-auth), make your changes with clear commits, then merge to main when done. Even without a team, this gives you rollback capability and a clean history. Push to GitHub regularly as a backup. If you use an AI coding tool, review the diff before committing to catch any issues.
I committed my .env file to git — how do I remove it?
First, add .env to your .gitignore. Then run 'git rm --cached .env' to untrack it (this keeps the local file). Commit this change. Important: the .env data is still in git history. If it was pushed to a public repo, rotate all exposed credentials immediately. For a thorough cleanup, consider git-filter-branch or BFG Repo-Cleaner, but rotating secrets is the priority.
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