In the world of software development, efficient version control practices are crucial for maintaining a clean and manageable codebase. Personally, I have found that using Pull Requests (PRs) for every changes, whatever major or minor, coupled with a Squash Merge strategy, significantly enhances both the development process and the quality of the code. Here’s why I prefer this approach and how it can benefit your projects too.
tldr;
Pull Request: A PR only does one thing, whatever the major or minor changes
Squash Merge: This method may not be the best, but it's a form of efficiency prioritisation that improves teamwork, reduces risk, and keeps CI and git records stable
The Benefits of Using Pull Requests
It's important for a PR to do only one thing, whether it's a big change or a small one, and this is important for the project for the following reasons:
1. Improved Code Review Process:
Using PRs means every major change gets reviewed by team members before merging into the main branch. This review helps catch errors, suggest improvements, and ensure coding standards are met. The collaborative feedback in PRs leads to better code quality and shared team knowledge.
2. Maintaining a Clean Git History:
One key advantage of PRs is maintaining a clean and understandable git history. By using Squash Merge, all related commits in a PR can be combined into a single commit. This creates a concise and navigable history, where each commit represents a complete feature or fix, rather than a series of incremental changes.
3. Enhanced Collaboration:
PRs improve collaboration by making proposed changes visible to the entire team. This transparency fosters a shared understanding of the codebase, encourages knowledge sharing, and keeps everyone informed about ongoing developments. Reviewing each other’s code promotes a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
4. Better Tracking and Accountability:
Each PR serves as a clear record of changes linked to specific tasks or features. This makes it easy to understand the reasons behind changes and identify who made them. The accountability provided by PRs encourages developers to write thoughtful, well-tested code, knowing their peers will review it.
5. Facilitates Continuous Integration (CI):
Each PR serves as a clear record of changes linked to specific tasks or features. This makes it easy to understand the reasons behind changes and identify who made them. The accountability provided by PRs encourages developers to write thoughtful, well-tested code, knowing their peers will review it.
6. Risk Mitigation:
PRs help maintain a stable codebase by reducing the risk of bugs through thorough reviews and automated tests. If issues arise, it’s easier to revert a single squashed commit than to untangle multiple small commits, making problem resolution more straightforward.
7. Documentation and Historical Context:
Discussions and comments within PRs serve as valuable documentation, providing context for future reference. A clean commit history offers a clear view of the project's evolution, aiding in understanding the progression of the codebase over time. (You can use Linear combined with PR history to dramatically increase productivity)
Why Squash Merge?
Squash Merge is a powerful tool for maintaining a clean and organised git history. By consolidating all commits from a PR into a single commit, it simplifies the history and makes it easier to understand. This approach is particularly beneficial for large teams or long-running projects, where a cluttered commit history can become difficult to navigate.
In summary, using PRs for major changes and employing a Squash Merge strategy offers numerous benefits, from improved code quality and collaboration to better tracking and risk mitigation. While these practices are my personal preference, I believe they can greatly enhance the development process for many teams. By adopting these strategies, you can achieve a more streamlined, efficient, and maintainable codebase.