108 lines
4 KiB
Markdown
108 lines
4 KiB
Markdown
---
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stage: Create
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group: Source Code
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info: "To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/product/ux/technical-writing/#assignments"
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type: how-tos
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---
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# Develop on a feature branch **(FREE)**
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GitLab values encourage the use of [Minimal Viable Change (MVC)](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/values/#minimal-viable-change-mvc).
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However, viable changes are not always small. In such cases, it can help to set up a dedicated feature branch.
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People can contribute MRs to that feature branch, without affecting the functionality of the [default branch](../../user/project/repository/branches/default.md).
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Once work on the development branch is complete, then the feature branch can be finally merged into the default branch.
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GitLab frequently implements this process whenever there is an MVC that requires multiple MRs.
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## Use case: GitLab release posts
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This section describes the use case with GitLab [release posts](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/marketing/blog/release-posts/).
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Dozens of GitLab team members contribute to each monthly release post.
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In such cases, it may be more efficient to submit an MR on the release post feature branch instead of the [default branch](../../user/project/repository/branches/default.md).
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In this case, the feature branch would be `release-X-Y`. Assuming the `release-X-Y` branch already exists, you can set up an MR against that branch, with the following steps:
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1. Navigate to the [default branch](../../user/project/repository/branches/default.md) (here, `main`):
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```shell
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git checkout main
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```
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1. Make sure you have the latest version of your repository:
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```shell
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git fetch
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git pull
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```
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1. Check out the feature branch:
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```shell
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git checkout release-x-y
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```
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1. Create a new branch (`test-branch`) against the feature branch (`release-x-y`):
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```shell
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git checkout -b test-branch release-x-y
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```
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You should now be on a branch named `test-branch`.
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1. Make desired changes on the `test-branch`.
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1. Add your changes, commit, and push to the `test-branch`:
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```shell
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git add .
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```
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1. Commit your changes:
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```shell
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git commit -m "Some good reason"
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```
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1. Push your changes to the repository:
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```shell
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git push --set-upstream origin test-branch
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```
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1. Navigate to the URL for your repository. In this case, the repository is `www-gitlab-com`, available at `https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com`.
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If needed, sign in to GitLab. You should then see an option to **Create merge request**:
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1. After you select **Create merge request**, an option to **Change branches** displays. Select that option.
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1. In the **New Merge Request** screen, you can now select the **Source** and **Target** branches.
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In the screenshot shown,
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we have selected `test-branch` as the source, and `release-13-0` as the target.
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1. Once you've selected the Source and Target branches, select **Compare branches and continue**.
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You should see an entry similar to:
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```plaintext
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New Merge Request
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From test-branch into release-13-0
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```
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An entry like this confirms your merge request's destination.
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1. Make any additional changes in the **New Merge Request** screen, and select **Submit merge request**.
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1. In the new merge request, look for **Request to merge**. An entry similar to this displays:
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```plaintext
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Request to merge test-branch into release-13-0
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```
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That confirms you've set up the MR to merge into the specified branch, not the [default branch](../../user/project/repository/branches/default.md).
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1. Proceed with the change as you would with any other MR.
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1. When your MR is approved, and an appropriate user merges that MR, you can rest assured that your work is incorporated directly into the feature branch.
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When the feature branch is ready, it can then be merged into the [default branch](../../user/project/repository/branches/default.md).
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