Goal
Keep one clear, reliable source for your application code so everyone — developers, testers, and managers — works from the same version, making collaboration smoother and deployments predictable.
What It Means
A codebase is like the master copy of your app — all the instructions the software needs to run. It’s stored in a special system called version control (e.g., Git), which tracks every change over time.
- One codebase can be used for multiple deployments (development, staging, production), but they all come from the same original set of files.
- Don’t have two different codebases for the same app — that causes confusion and errors.
- If two apps share some functionality, put that shared logic into a separate library that both can use, rather than mixing the apps together.
Why It Matters
- Single source of truth – Everyone, from developers to project managers, can see and track the exact version of the app that’s live.
- Consistency – The same code runs in testing and production, reducing surprises when launching features.
- Faster fixes – If a bug is found, the team knows exactly where to look.
- Easier scaling – Adding new environments or servers is straightforward because they all use the same code.
Example
Imagine a company that runs an online store:
- There’s one master copy of the store’s code in GitHub.
- Developers create feature branches to add new functions (e.g., a new payment method).
- Once ready, changes are tested in a staging environment before being merged into the production branch.
- Everyone knows exactly what’s running on the live website.
Best Practices
- Always use version control to keep a history of changes and recover old versions if needed.
- Keep one repository per application for clarity and control.
- Separate shared code into libraries so multiple apps can use it without duplication.
- Tag and label releases so managers and stakeholders can track which version is live.
- Automate deployments so updates are smooth and error-free.
Takeaway
One app should always have one central codebase.
This creates transparency, improves teamwork, reduces errors, and makes it easier for both technical and non-technical teams to understand what’s running and where.
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