Release Branch Strategy

Overview

Effective branch management enables parallel development while maintaining stability. This document outlines a branch strategy that supports multiple release tracks without conflicts.

Branch Hierarchy

Conceptual Structure

main (stable, production-ready)
├── release/security (critical fixes)
├── release/infrastructure (foundational improvements)
├── release/features (new functionality)
└── release/maintenance (cleanup and documentation)

Each release branch serves a specific purpose and follows its own cadence.

Branch Types and Purposes

Main Branch

Purpose: Stable, production-ready code Protection: Strict - requires reviews and passing tests Merge Source: Only from release branches Deploy: Production environment

Security Release Branch

Purpose: Critical security fixes and patches Priority: Highest - immediate attention Merge Strategy: Direct to main after security review Deploy: Hot-fix to production (minutes to hours)

Characteristics:

• Small, focused changes
• Automated security testing required
• Manual security review mandatory
• Same-day deployment target

Infrastructure Release Branch

Purpose: Foundation improvements and stability Priority: High - enables future development Merge Strategy: Staged through environments Deploy: Controlled rollout (days)

Characteristics:

• Performance benchmarking required
• Backward compatibility verified
• Integration testing mandatory
• Gradual deployment with monitoring

Feature Release Branch

Purpose: New functionality and enhancements Priority: Medium - business value driven Merge Strategy: Feature-flagged gradual rollout Deploy: Phased rollout (weeks)

Characteristics:

• Complete feature before merge
• User acceptance testing
• Feature flags for control
• Usage monitoring and feedback

Maintenance Release Branch

Purpose: Documentation, cleanup, refactoring Priority: Low - ongoing improvement Merge Strategy: Batch merges monthly Deploy: Maintenance window

Characteristics:

• Documentation updates
• Code quality improvements
• Technical debt reduction
• Non-blocking changes

Branch Management Practices

Branch Creation

Create release branches from main:

1. Ensure main is stable
2. Create branch for specific release track
3. Set up branch protection rules
4. Configure CI/CD for branch

Branch Synchronization

Keep release branches synchronized with main:

• Weekly sync: Merge main into release branches
• Conflict resolution: Address conflicts early
• Clean history: Rebase or merge cleanly
• Communication: Notify team of major changes

Branch Cleanup

Manage branch lifecycle:

• After merge: Delete feature branches
• Stale branches: Remove branches not updated in 30 days
• Protection: Keep active release branches
• Archive: Document completed releases

Quality Gates by Branch

Security Branch Gates

• Automated security scanning (SAST/DAST)
• Manual security code review
• Penetration testing (critical issues)
• Security team approval
• Documented rollback procedure

Infrastructure Branch Gates

• Performance benchmarking
• Integration testing
• Backward compatibility verification
• Infrastructure team approval
• Monitoring and alerting configured

Feature Branch Gates

• Test coverage > 80%
• User acceptance criteria met
• Performance impact assessed
• Product owner approval
• Feature flag configured

Maintenance Branch Gates

• Documentation updated
• Code quality metrics maintained
• No regressions introduced
• Peer review completed

Merge Strategies

Hot-fix Merges (Security)

1. Create fix in security branch
2. Review and test immediately
3. Merge directly to main
4. Deploy to production
5. Back-merge to other release branches

Staged Merges (Infrastructure)

1. Develop in infrastructure branch
2. Merge to main after validation
3. Deploy to staging
4. Verify and monitor
5. Promote to production

Feature-Flagged Merges (Features)

1. Complete feature in feature branch
2. Add feature flag controls
3. Merge to main (flag disabled)
4. Deploy to production (still disabled)
5. Gradually enable for users

Batch Merges (Maintenance)

1. Accumulate changes in maintenance branch
2. Bundle related improvements
3. Review and test as group
4. Merge during maintenance window
5. Deploy during low-traffic period

Branch Protection Configuration

Protection Levels

Strict (Main)

• Require 2 approvals
• Enforce passing tests
• Require up-to-date branch
• Restrict who can push
• Require code owner review

High (Security, Infrastructure)

• Require 1 approval from specialized team
• Enforce passing security/performance tests
• Require specific test contexts
• Allow force push by admins only

Medium (Features)

• Require 1 approval
• Enforce passing tests
• Standard CI/CD checks
• Product owner review

Low (Maintenance)

• Require peer review
• Basic quality checks
• Documentation completeness
• No breaking changes

Best Practices

For Developers

Branch Selection

• Choose the right release branch for your work
• Understand merge timeline and requirements
• Coordinate with other developers on same branch

Commit Discipline

• Write clear, descriptive commit messages
• Make atomic commits (one logical change)
• Test before committing
• Keep commits small and focused

Code Review

• Request reviews promptly
• Respond to feedback quickly
• Be open to suggestions
• Review others' code regularly

For Teams

Communication

• Share branch status regularly
• Coordinate dependencies
• Document important decisions
• Notify of breaking changes

Planning

• Plan releases across branches
• Identify dependencies early
• Allocate resources appropriately
• Set realistic timelines

Retrospectives

• Review merge conflicts and causes
• Discuss process improvements
• Share lessons learned
• Update documentation

Common Challenges and Solutions

Challenge: Merge Conflicts

Prevention:

• Sync branches regularly
• Communicate about large changes
• Keep PRs small
• Rebase frequently

Resolution:

• Address conflicts immediately
• Consult original authors
• Test thoroughly after resolution
• Document conflict resolution approach

Challenge: Stale Branches

Prevention:

• Set branch expiration policies
• Regular cleanup sprints
• Monitor branch age
• Automate stale branch notifications

Resolution:

• Archive or delete old branches
• Document completed work
• Update tracking systems
• Communicate branch cleanup

Challenge: Branch Sprawl

Prevention:

• Limit active release branches
• Clear branch naming conventions
• Regular branch reviews
• Enforce branch policies

Resolution:

• Consolidate similar branches
• Complete or abandon in-progress work
• Document branch purpose
• Update team practices

Key Principles

1. One Purpose Per Branch - Each release branch has a clear, specific purpose
2. Regular Synchronization - Keep branches aligned with main regularly
3. Clear Ownership - Every branch has defined owners and reviewers
4. Automated Protection - Use branch protection rules extensively
5. Clean History - Maintain readable, understandable git history

This strategy enables safe, parallel development across multiple priorities while maintaining code quality and release stability.