Company
Date Published
Author
Harness Team
Word count
1592
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Trunk-based development is a software development model that emphasizes frequent code commits to a single mainline, known as the trunk, which serves as the single source of truth. This approach reduces merge conflicts, accelerates release cycles, and enhances productivity through continuous integration, automated testing, and rapid deployment. Unlike other models such as Gitflow or feature branching, trunk-based development encourages developers to integrate code changes into the trunk multiple times daily, using short-lived branches only when necessary. This method is favored for its ability to maintain a high-quality, manageable codebase by ensuring all team members work from the same central repository, facilitating quick feedback, early error detection, and more frequent releases. Best practices for implementing trunk-based development include fostering a culture of continuous integration, automating testing processes, maintaining effective code review practices, and managing feature toggles to integrate code for incomplete features without exposing them prematurely. The approach supports efficient workflows, quick time-to-market, and improved coding practices, making it suitable for teams of any size or project complexity. Additionally, tools like Harness offer feature management and experimentation capabilities to further enhance trunk-based development by providing control over feature deployments and enabling A/B testing.