Trunk-based development

Definition

Trunk-based development is a software development practice where all developers work in a single branch, called the trunk, instead of using multiple long-lived branches. This approach encourages frequent integration of code changes, minimizing merge conflicts and ensuring that the codebase remains in a deployable state. By focusing on short-lived feature branches that are merged back into the trunk quickly, teams can maintain a continuous flow of updates and foster collaboration among developers.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Trunk-based development helps reduce integration problems by ensuring that developers integrate their work back to the trunk frequently, ideally at least once a day.
2. This method encourages collaboration and communication among team members since everyone is working off the same branch and seeing each other's updates in real-time.
3. Using short-lived feature branches in trunk-based development limits the scope of changes, making it easier to review and test before merging into the trunk.
4. This approach often leads to faster release cycles since the codebase remains stable and deployable throughout the development process.
5. Trunk-based development aligns well with Continuous Integration practices by supporting automated testing and deployment workflows, improving overall software quality.

Review Questions

• How does trunk-based development enhance collaboration among team members compared to traditional branching strategies?
  • Trunk-based development enhances collaboration by requiring all developers to work off the same trunk branch rather than isolated long-lived branches. This setup allows team members to see each other's changes in real-time, fostering better communication and reducing the likelihood of duplicate work. By integrating code changes frequently, teams can address issues as they arise and maintain a cohesive understanding of the project's current state.
• What role does Continuous Integration play in supporting trunk-based development, and how does this relationship improve software quality?
  • Continuous Integration supports trunk-based development by automating the process of testing and integrating code changes into the trunk. This relationship ensures that any new code is verified through automated tests before it merges, which helps catch issues early in the development cycle. Consequently, this practice leads to a more stable and reliable codebase as developers can trust that their contributions won’t break existing functionality.
• Evaluate the impact of adopting trunk-based development on deployment frequency and overall team productivity within software projects.
  • Adopting trunk-based development significantly increases deployment frequency as it keeps the codebase continuously ready for production. With developers integrating their changes regularly, teams can quickly release new features or fixes without long delays caused by extensive merge processes. This practice not only boosts overall productivity by minimizing integration conflicts but also creates a culture of accountability where each developer contributes consistently to the project's success.

Related terms

Continuous Integration:

A development practice where code changes are automatically tested and integrated into the shared repository frequently, helping to identify issues early.

Feature Flags: A technique that allows developers to enable or disable features in production without deploying new code, providing more flexibility in managing releases.

Pull Request:

A method for submitting contributions to a software project, where a developer requests to merge their changes from one branch into another, often used for review before integration.