Git Flow flowchart template

Git Flow is a popular branching strategy specifically designed for managing code versions in large projects. Its core consists of five main branches: master/main, develop, feature, release, and hotfix. The master/main branch stores only production-ready code, while the develop branch serves as the main branch for daily development. The feature branch is used to develop new features, created from the develop branch, and merged back into the develop branch after feature development is complete. The release branch is used for pre-release preparation, derived from the develop branch and merged into both master/main and develop branches after confirmation. The hotfix branch is used to fix critical issues in the production environment; it is derived from the master/main branch and merged back into both master/main and develop branches after the fix is ​​implemented. Modifiers typically describe the purpose and lifecycle of a branch, such as "a hotfix is ​​an emergency fix for master." In terms of file types, it usually involves source code files, configuration files, and documentation files. Git Flow ensures the organization and predictability of project version management, making it easier to track history and manage changes in complex projects.