finishing-a-development-branch

To finalize a Git feature branch after tests pass, you can choose between four structured options: merge locally, push and create a pull request, keep the branch as-is, or discard it. The workflow verifies tests, identifies the base branch, and cleans up the worktree after your decision.

The standard options for finishing a development branch are merging locally, pushing to create a pull request, preserving the branch, or discarding it. This structured approach ensures clean branch management and handles worktree cleanup after the chosen integration path.

You should choose a pull request over a local merge when your team needs code review before integration. The workflow presents both as distinct options, allowing you to push and create a PR or merge directly locally based on your team's collaboration requirements.

Yes, the branch finishing workflow handles worktree cleanup automatically as part of the process. After you select and execute one of the four finalization options, the workflow ensures the worktree is cleaned up to maintain code hygiene.

The required steps to complete a Git branch merge workflow are verifying that tests pass, determining the appropriate base branch, choosing one of the four finalization options, and executing the chosen option with worktree cleanup.

Yes, you can preserve a Git feature branch by selecting the option to keep the branch as-is. This is one of the four structured paths available when finalizing development work, allowing you to delay integration while maintaining your current progress.