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Development Tools Git Branches and Merging Merging Merging Into Topic Branches

Eduardo Osorio
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Eduardo Osorio
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 20,847 Points
Posted by Eduardo Osorio
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Eduardo Osorio
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 20,847 Points

Could someone explain the logic behind merging the master branch into the testing branch first?

I mean, couldn't we get the same end result doing it the other way from the start (merging the testing branch into the master branch) instead of what's done in the video (merging master into testing and then testing into master).

Or how would this differ in the end result?

Minardo Toirac Isla
Minardo Toirac Isla
10,341 Points

I think merging master to testing branch could be the start of the creation of the testing branch. Once the changes on the testing breach have been tested and approved, then we can do the merge from testing to the master branch.

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points

Hey Eduardo Osorio, great question! It’s key to remember that many others may be making contributions to the main (master) branch while you’re working on feature (testing) branch.

By merging the main branch into the feature branch, you allow for new main branch changes that occurred after the feature branch was created to be first combined and tested first on the feature branch.

Any conflicts or new bugs can be worked out while still on the feature branch. If no new charges are required, the feature branch can now be merged into the main branch.

If no new main branch changes had occurred, the main to feature merge would cause no changes, and the main+feature merge back to main would be a “fast forward”, meaning that only HEAD pointers are moved and no files need changing.

This is all to protect the main branch from being put in a bad state due to unexpected collisions with unknown updates coming others.

Hope this is clear. Post back if you need more help. Good luck!!!