finishing-a-development-branch

To close out a finished git feature branch after tests pass, you verify the test suite, determine the base branch, and select one of four explicit options: merge, pull request, keep, or discard, followed by worktree cleanup.

The options for finishing a git branch include merging into the base branch, opening a pull request for review, keeping the branch active, or discarding it entirely, ensuring deterministic outcomes for integration or cleanup.

You should discard a git branch instead of merging or creating a pull request when the feature is no longer needed or tests fail, allowing you to perform worktree cleanup and remove the branch state deterministically.

To clean up a git worktree after merging a feature branch, you execute the chosen finish option which automatically handles worktree cleanup and resets the branch state according to the selected integration workflow.

No, this branch cleanup workflow applies to any git-based workflow where branches represent features, operating independently of specific hosting platforms to determine the base branch and execute integration or discard options.