finishing-a-development-branch

To safely merge a completed git feature branch, run pre-merge checks to ensure tests pass and the working status is clean. The workflow then guides you to integrate the code directly or via a pull request.

The best way to integrate code into protected branches is by opening a pull request. This enforces branch protection rules by requiring review and gating the merge until all pre-merge checks and CI tests are green.

You should clean up a git branch immediately after finishing development work or experiments. Once the feature is fully integrated through a merge or pull request, branch hygiene practices remove the obsolete branch to keep the repository organized.

Yes, CI checks must pass before integrating a feature branch. Enforcing pre-merge gating ensures a green test status and clean working environment, preventing broken code from being merged into protected branches.

A decision tree helps with git branch management by evaluating your current state to prescribe a specific integration path. It determines whether to merge directly, open a pull request for review, or clean up experimental workspaces.