Git Feature Branch Workflow

Intro

This workflow supports small-team collaboration using feature branches and GitHub pull requests. Based on:

• A simple Git workflow for small team projects
• GIT when working with a team?
• Git Feature Branch Workflow

—————– MASTER

Step 0: Clean your master worktree

Make sure there are no uncommitted or unpushed changes in master.

git status
# should output: nothing to commit, working tree clean

Step 1: Switch to master and update it from origin

git checkout master
git pull origin master

—————– FEATURE BRANCH

Step 2: Create a new feature branch

Create a new branch based on the latest master.

git checkout -b feature/name

(OR IF EXISTING) Switch to an existing feature branch:

git switch feature/name

(Make your changes)…

Step 3: Edit and commit changes

Stage and commit your changes regularly.

git add .
git commit -m "feat: update on x"

Step 4 (optional): Check differences from master

Useful for reviewing what the branch introduces.

git diff --color-words master..feature/name

Step 5: Push your branch to the remote

Push your branch and set the upstream tracking reference.

git push -u origin feature/name

—————– MASTER (optional

Step 6 (optional): Update local master

Switch back to master to check if there have been any updates.

git checkout master
# (optional) update local repo with latest changes from remote
git pull origin master

—————– FEATURE BRANCH (optional

Step 7 (optional): Merge latest master into your feature branch

Switch back to your feature branch

git checkout feature/name

MERGE OR REBASE to avoid conflicts when the PR is reviewed or merged.

• 1. merge keeps the commit history of the branch ✅
• 2. rebase rewrites commits, but keep the history of the branch clean ⚠️

Merge the latest changes from master into your feature branch locally

git merge master
git push origin feature/name

Step 8 (optional): Review branch differences before PR

• 1/2 On GitHub: https://github.com/your-username//<master…feature/name>

• 2/2 In terminal:

git diff --color-words master..feature/name

Step 9: Create a pull request

You can do this either:

• 1/2 On GitHub: click 🔳 “Compare & pull request” or go to Pull Requests tab

• 2/2 In terminal:

gh pr create --base master --head feature/name --title "feat: upd..."

Step 10: Respond to code review (if needed)

…

If reviewers request changes:

git add .
git commit -m "fix: addressed review comments"
# update the pull request
git push origin feature/name

Step 11: Merge the pull request

On GitHub, choose your preferred merge method:

• Squash and merge: one commit for the whole branch added to master
• Rebase and merge: replays commits on top of base branch, (linear history)
• Merge commit: adds a merge commit preserving all commits as-is (full history)

Then confirm the merge.

—————– MASTER

Step 12: Pull the updated master locally

After merging the PR:

git checkout master
git pull origin master

Verify branches

git branch -vv # * wkg_br abc1234 [origin/wkg_br] your commit message here
git log --graph --all --oneline --decorate

Step 13 (optional): Delete the feature branch

Delete your feature branch locally and remotely if it’s no longer needed.

git branch -d feature/name                 # local deletion
git push origin --delete feature/name     # remote deletion