Best Practices for Maintaining Two Slightly Different Versions of the Same Codebase from a Version Control Perspective

Maintaining two slightly different versions of the same codebase can be effectively managed using version control systems like Git. This article provides a detailed guide on how to handle such scenarios, ensuring continuity, stability, and code reuse. We will explore best practices that include branching, tagging, merging, cherry-picking, feature flags, documentation, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD).

1. Use Branching

Version control systems like Git offer robust branching capabilities. These allow you to create separate branches for each version of the codebase, enabling you to develop features or fixes independently without affecting the other version.

1.1 Feature Branches

For instance, you could have a main branch for the primary version and a version-2 branch for the alternative version. This setup allows you to work on new features or bug fixes in isolation from the main branch, ensuring that changes do not propagate unintentionally.

1.2 Release Branches

If the two versions are meant to be stable releases, consider using release branches. For example, release-v1 and release-v2 can be used to maintain stability while selectively merging critical fixes back to these branches.

2. Tagging

Tags in Git are a powerful tool for marking specific points in the history of your codebase. Use tags to mark stable releases of each version. This helps in quickly identifying and checking out specific versions when needed.

3. Merging and Cherry-Picking

When it is necessary to share changes between the two versions, use merging or cherry-picking. Merging is useful when you want to integrate changes from one branch into another, while cherry-picking allows you to selectively apply specific commits.

3.1 Merging

For example, if there are common bug fixes that need to be applied to both versions, you can merge changes from one branch to another. Here's how:

n   
bash
   git checkout version-1 nthn
   git merge version-2

This command merges all changes from the version-2 branch into the version-1 branch.

3.2 Cherry-Picking

Cherry-picking is more granular, allowing you to apply specific commits. For example:

n
   git checkout version-1
   git cherry-pick commit-hash

This command applies a specific commit from the version-2 branch to the version-1 branch, selectively integrating only the changes you need.

4. Feature Flags

For minor differences, using feature flags is an effective approach. Feature flags allow you to control which features are active in each version, maintaining a single codebase without the complexity of maintaining multiple branches.

5. Documentation

Clear documentation is crucial. Document the differences between the two versions. This can include comments in the code, a README file, or a dedicated document outlining the intended differences and specific instructions for maintaining each version.

6. Use of Forks if Applicable

If the differences are substantial and you anticipate diverging significantly over time, consider using forks. This creates a distinct copy of the repository, allowing for separate development paths while still enabling collaboration and potential integration.

7. Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

Setting up CI/CD pipelines is essential for each version. This ensures that changes are tested and deployed appropriately, managing differences in deployment environments and requirements effectively.

7.1 Example Workflow

Create branches:

n
   bash
   git checkout -b version-1
   git checkout -b version-2

Make changes: - Work on version-1 and version-2 independently. Merge changes if needed:

n
   bash
   git checkout version-1
   git merge version-2

This merges all changes from version-2 into version-1.

Cherry-pick commits:

n
   bash
   git checkout version-1
   git cherry-pick commit-hash

This applies a specific commit from version-2 to version-1 selectively.

By following these practices, you can effectively manage and maintain two slightly different versions of the same codebase while minimizing conflicts and maximizing code reuse.