finishing-a-development-branch

To finalize a git development branch after tests pass, you select from four deterministic options: merge locally, push a pull request, keep the branch, or discard it, followed by optional worktree cleanup to maintain a clean repository.

The best way to merge a feature branch locally is to use a structured workflow that automatically detects the base branch and presents a deterministic four-option prompt to standardize the merge, PR, keep, or discard decision.

Yes, you can integrate common CI test commands to verify they pass before the workflow presents push pull request options, ensuring broken code is never merged into the base branch.

Git branch cleanup does remove worktrees when discarding development work, executing the chosen discard action and performing optional worktree removal to keep the local environment clean.

You need to discard a feature branch instead of keeping it when tests fail or the work is abandoned, selecting the discard option from the four-option prompt to execute removal and optional worktree cleanup.