Chapter 15: Git Best Practices
Git Best Practices! ☕
It’s February 13, 2026, Hyderabad afternoon, and you’ve already learned the mechanics (init, add, commit, branch, merge, stash, etc.). Now comes the part that separates “I know Git” from “I write clean, team-friendly, future-proof Git”.
Best practices are not strict laws — they’re patterns that reduce pain, make reviews faster, keep history readable years later, and help teams ship without drama.
We’ll cover the most widely recommended practices in 2025–2026 (from GitKraken, GitHub docs, community consensus on Reddit/Stack Overflow/Medium, and real enterprise patterns). I’ll explain why each one matters + real examples.
1. Commit Messages – The Most Important Skill After Branching
Your commit message is documentation that lives forever. Bad ones = “fix”, “update”, “changes”. Good ones = searchable, understandable history.
Modern convention (2026 standard): Conventional Commits + imperative mood
Structure:
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<type>(<scope>): <short summary max 50–72 chars> <blank line> <body – explain why & how if needed – max 72 chars per line> <blank line> <footer – ticket ID, breaking changes, etc.> |
Common types:
- feat = new feature
- fix = bug fix
- refactor = code change without behavior change
- docs = documentation
- style = formatting (no code change)
- test = adding/fixing tests
- chore = build/tooling
- perf = performance
- ci = CI/CD
Examples – good vs bad
Bad (what most juniors write):
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git commit -m "fix" git commit -m "added stuff" git commit -m "wip login" |
Good (2026 style):
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git commit -m "feat(auth): implement JWT login endpoint" # or multi-line git commit -m "fix(ui): correct mobile menu overlap on iOS Root cause was missing media query for 375px width. Added new breakpoint and tested on real device. Closes DEV-456" |
Why this wins:
- Tools (GitHub, Jira, conventional-changelog) auto-generate changelogs
- git log –grep=”feat” finds features fast
- Reviewers understand why instantly
Pro tip: Use git commit (no -m) → opens editor → write subject + body easily.
2. Branch Naming Conventions – Make Searching & Context Instant
In 2026, almost every team uses <type>/<ticket-id>-<kebab-case-description>
Common types:
- feature/, feat/
- bugfix/, fix/
- hotfix/
- refactor/
- docs/
- test/
- chore/
Examples:
- feat/DEV-123-add-user-profile-page
- fix/BUG-789-handle-null-in-payment-service
- refactor/DEV-456-extract-auth-service
- hotfix/PROD-101-fix-xss-in-comment-form
Why this is gold:
- Searchable: git branch -a | grep DEV-123
- Traceable: links to Jira/Linear ticket
- Consistent → PR titles auto-fill nicely
- Filters easily in GitHub/GitLab
Avoid:
- branch1, test, my-branch, login (no context)
- Very long names (> 60 chars)
- Using / too deeply (max 2–3 levels)
3. Keep Branches Short-Lived & Small
Rule: Branch life < 1–4 days, PR size < 400 LOC ideal (< 200 perfect)
Why?
- Less divergence → fewer conflicts
- Faster reviews
- Easier to test & debug
- Less “big bang” integration risk
If a feature is huge → break into multiple small PRs:
- feat/core-auth-service
- feat/auth-login-ui
- feat/auth-signup-ui
Use feature flags (if-statements, LaunchDarkly) to hide unfinished parts.
4. Use Pull Requests / Merge Requests Religiously
Even if solo → create PRs:
- Self-review catches bugs
- Forces good description
- History of discussion
- Linked to tickets
- Triggers CI/CD
Good PR checklist (2026):
- Title = same as squash commit message
- Description: What + Why + How + Screenshots + Tests
- Link ticket
- Self-assign or request review
- Use checklists/templates
Merge strategy (team decision – popular 2026 options):
- Squash & merge → clean history (most common for web/apps)
- Rebase & merge → linear history
- Merge commit → preserves full branch story (GitFlow style)
5. .gitignore & Security Hygiene
Always have a good .gitignore from day 1:
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# Common 2026 ignores node_modules/ dist/ build/ .env *.log .DS_Store .vscode/ coverage/ |
Never commit:
- Secrets (.env, keys, passwords)
- Large binaries (use Git LFS if really needed)
- IDE files
Use git-secrets or pre-commit hooks to block secrets.
6. History Hygiene & Safety Nets
- Commit often → small logical units
- git rebase -i before PR → squash fixup commits
- Use git stash or git worktree for context switching
- git reflog = your personal time machine (recover lost commits)
- git bisect to find bugs fast
Avoid force push on shared branches (main, develop). Use –force-with-lease if you must.
7. Workflow Choice (Quick Recap 2026)
- Solo / small team / continuous deploy → GitHub Flow
- Large/fast team / monorepo → Trunk-Based + flags
- Scheduled releases / multiple versions → GitFlow
Most recommended starter (2026) → GitHub Flow with squash-merge + conventional commits.
Mini Checklist – Your 2026 Daily Routine
- Morning: git switch main && git pull
- New work: git switch -c feat/DEV-123-description
- Work → small commits with good messages
- Ready: git push -u origin HEAD
- Create PR → fill template → request review
- After merge: git switch main && git pull && git branch -d old-branch
Want to practice? We can simulate a full GitHub Flow session with conventional commits right here — or zoom into any section (e.g., interactive rebase demo, .gitignore templates).
Which part feels most useful / confusing right now? You’re at the finish line of becoming really strong with Git — proud of you! 🚀
