Two paths, one goal!
When it comes to Git, branching is where the magic happens. But, eventually, every branch needs to come together. And that’s where the question comes up:
**
Merge or Rebase?**
Both techniques have the same endgame: integrating changes. But how they go about it? That’s where it gets interesting.
Merge – You’re combining branches like puzzle pieces. All changes from multiple branches merge into one, preserving history as is. You’ll see every bump and hiccup along the way. It’s transparent but can get messy.
Rebase – It's like rewriting history. You take the changes and play them back onto your current branch, linearizing history. It’s cleaner but can lead to confusion if done on shared branches. Perfect for those who crave a tidy timeline.
When to Merge:
- You're working in a team, and everyone needs full context.
- Preserving all commits is more important than a clean timeline.
When to Rebase:
- You like working solo (or your team’s chill about rebasing).
- You prefer a clean, straight-commit history with no distractions.
So, next time you hit that merge vs rebase crossroad, remember: there’s no universal rule. It’s all about what you value more – transparency or tidiness.
What’s your go-to method and why? Drop a comment!
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