Branch FM

Branch FM refers to a feature branch management methodology or system, often used in software development. The "FM" typically signifies "Feature Management" or "Feature Module." It encompasses the strategies, tools, and workflows employed to effectively handle a large number of short-lived feature branches. The core principle of Branch FM is to make feature branching more scalable and manageable, especially in environments practicing continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD).

Key aspects of Branch FM include:

• Short-lived branches: Feature branches are intended to be short-lived, minimizing divergence from the main branch (often main or trunk) and reducing the risk of merge conflicts.

• Automated merging and testing: Automation plays a vital role in merging feature branches back into the main branch. Automated testing is crucial to ensure the stability of the codebase after each merge.

• Feature toggles (or feature flags): Features are often hidden behind feature toggles. These toggles allow developers to deploy code to production without exposing the new functionality to all users immediately. This allows for testing in a production environment and controlled rollout of features.

• Clear branching strategies: A well-defined branching strategy is essential. Common strategies like Gitflow or Trunk-Based Development are often adapted or modified as part of Branch FM.

• Collaboration and communication: Effective communication and collaboration among developers are necessary to coordinate branch creation, merging, and feature rollout.

• Centralized management: Tools that provide a central view of all feature branches, their status, and associated feature toggles can be considered part of a Branch FM system. These tools often integrate with issue tracking systems (e.g., Jira) and CI/CD pipelines.

In essence, Branch FM addresses the challenges of managing numerous parallel feature development efforts, aiming to increase development velocity, reduce merge conflicts, and improve the stability and control over feature releases.