BRANCHING_DOCS_INDEX.md

📚 Branching Strategy Documentation Index

Welcome to the ThemisDB Git Flow Branching Strategy documentation! This index helps you find the right document for your needs.

🎯 Choose Your Document

📖 For First-Time Readers

Start here to understand the overall strategy:

1. BRANCHING_IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md ⭐ START HERE

   • Overview of the entire branching strategy
   • What has been implemented
   • Quick reference to all documents
   • Time: 5-10 minutes

2. BRANCHING_VISUAL_GUIDE.md

   • Visual diagrams and flowcharts
   • Real-world examples
   • Decision trees
   • Time: 10-15 minutes

📚 Complete Strategy Documentation

Choose based on your language preference:

• BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md 🇩🇪

  • Complete strategy in German
  • All workflows and processes
  • Best practices and guidelines
  • Time: 30-45 minutes

• BRANCHING_STRATEGY_EN.md 🇬🇧

  • Complete strategy in English
  • All workflows and processes
  • Best practices and guidelines
  • Time: 30-45 minutes

🚀 Quick References

For daily use and quick lookups:

• BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md
  • One-page cheat sheet
  • Common commands
  • Branch types and naming
  • Print this for your desk! 📄
  • Time: 2-3 minutes

🔄 Migration and Setup

For transitioning to the new strategy:

• MIGRATION_GUIDE.md

  • Step-by-step migration instructions
  • For maintainers and contributors
  • Handling existing PRs
  • Troubleshooting common issues
  • Time: 15-20 minutes

• BRANCH_PROTECTION_SETUP.md

  • GitHub branch protection configuration
  • CODEOWNERS setup
  • Automated scripts
  • Time: 10-15 minutes

• MERGE_STRATEGY_MIGRATION.md 🆕

  • Migration to squash merge strategy
  • Why we changed from merge commits
  • Benefits and tradeoffs
  • FAQ and best practices
  • Time: 10-15 minutes

• GITHUB_SETTINGS_CONFIGURATION.md 🆕

  • Step-by-step GitHub repository settings
  • Configure merge methods
  • Required for repository administrators
  • Time: 5-10 minutes

• MERGE_STRATEGY_QUICK_REF.md 🆕

  • One-page merge strategy reference
  • When to squash vs merge commit
  • For daily use
  • Print this! 📄
  • Time: 2-3 minutes

🤝 Contributing

Updated guidelines for contributions:

• CONTRIBUTING.md
  • How to contribute to ThemisDB
  • Updated with branching strategy
  • Code quality standards
  • PR process

📑 Documentation Map

Documentation Structure
│
├── 🎯 Getting Started
│   ├── BRANCHING_IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md    ← Overview
│   └── ci-cd/branching-release-history/BRANCHING_VISUAL_GUIDE.md ← Visual guide
│
├── 📖 Complete Guides
│   ├── BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md                  ← German
│   └── BRANCHING_STRATEGY_EN.md               ← English
│
├── 🚀 Quick References
│   └── BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md                 ← Cheat sheet
│
├── 🔧 Setup & Migration
│   ├── MIGRATION_GUIDE.md                     ← Transition guide
│   ├── BRANCH_PROTECTION_SETUP.md             ← GitHub config
│   ├── MERGE_STRATEGY_MIGRATION.md            ← Squash merge migration 🆕
│   ├── GITHUB_SETTINGS_CONFIGURATION.md       ← GitHub settings 🆕
│   └── ci-cd/branching-release-history/MERGE_STRATEGY_QUICK_REF.md ← Merge quick ref 🆕
│
├── 🤝 Contributing
│   └── ../CONTRIBUTING.md                     ← Contribution guide
│
└── ⚙️ Configuration
   ├── ../.github/CODEOWNERS                  ← Code ownership
   └── ../.github/workflows/develop-ci.yml.example ← CI example

🎭 Choose by Your Role

👨‍💻 As a Developer

First time contributing:

1. Read: BRANCHING_IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md
2. Review: BRANCHING_VISUAL_GUIDE.md
3. Keep handy: BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md

Daily work:

• Quick reference: BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md
• Contributing guide: CONTRIBUTING.md

👨‍💼 As a Maintainer

Initial setup:

1. Read: BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md or BRANCHING_STRATEGY_EN.md
2. Follow: MIGRATION_GUIDE.md (Maintainer section)
3. Configure: BRANCH_PROTECTION_SETUP.md

Daily maintenance:

• Review PRs using: BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md
• Enforce rules from: BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md

🆕 As a New Contributor

Getting started:

1. Start: BRANCHING_IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md
2. Understand: BRANCHING_VISUAL_GUIDE.md
3. Contribute: CONTRIBUTING.md
4. Print: BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md

🔄 Migrating Existing PRs

If you have open PRs:

1. Follow: MIGRATION_GUIDE.md (Contributors section)
2. Use commands from: BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md
3. Ask for help in GitHub Discussions if stuck

📊 Document Comparison

Document	Length	Audience	Purpose	Print-Friendly
Implementation Summary	Medium	Everyone	Overview	✅
Visual Guide	Long	Visual learners	Understanding flows	✅
Strategy (DE/EN)	Long	Deep dive	Complete reference	⚠️
Quick Reference	Short	Daily use	Command reference	✅
Migration Guide	Medium	Transitioning	Step-by-step migration	✅
Branch Protection	Medium	Maintainers	GitHub setup	✅

🔍 Find Information By Topic

Branch Types

• Complete info: BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md → "Branch-Struktur"
• Quick ref: BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md → "Branch Types"
• Visual: BRANCHING_VISUAL_GUIDE.md → "Branch Structure Overview"

Creating Feature Branches

• Commands: BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md → "Start New Feature"
• Workflow: BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md → "feature/* Branches"
• Visual: BRANCHING_VISUAL_GUIDE.md → "New Feature Development"

Release Process

• Complete: BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md → "Release Process"
• Steps: BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md → "Start Release"
• Visual: BRANCHING_VISUAL_GUIDE.md → "Release Process"

Hotfix Process

• Complete: BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md → "hotfix/* Branches"
• Commands: BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md → "Create Hotfix"
• Visual: BRANCHING_VISUAL_GUIDE.md → "Hotfix (Production Bug)"

Pull Requests

• Guidelines: CONTRIBUTING.md → "Pull Request Process"
• Workflow: BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md → "Pull Request Workflows"
• Visual: BRANCHING_VISUAL_GUIDE.md → "Pull Request Flow"

Merge Strategy

• Complete guide: MERGE_STRATEGY_MIGRATION.md 🆕
• Quick reference: MERGE_STRATEGY_QUICK_REF.md 🆕
• GitHub setup: GITHUB_SETTINGS_CONFIGURATION.md 🆕
• Guidelines: CONTRIBUTING.md → "Merge Strategy Guidelines"
• Strategy docs: BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md → "Merge-Strategie"

Branch Protection

• Setup: BRANCH_PROTECTION_SETUP.md
• Rules: BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md → "Branch Protection Rules"

Migration

• Full guide: MIGRATION_GUIDE.md
• Summary: BRANCHING_IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md → "Next Steps"

🎓 Learning Path

Beginner Path (1-2 hours)

1. BRANCHING_IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md (10 min)
   ↓
2. BRANCHING_VISUAL_GUIDE.md (15 min)
   ↓
3. CONTRIBUTING.md (20 min)
   ↓
4. Practice: Create a test feature branch
   ↓
5. Keep: BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md for reference

Advanced Path (3-4 hours)

1. BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md or BRANCHING_STRATEGY_EN.md (45 min)
   ↓
2. BRANCH_PROTECTION_SETUP.md (15 min)
   ↓
3. MIGRATION_GUIDE.md (20 min)
   ↓
4. Practice: Complete workflow simulation
   ↓
5. Review: All example workflows

Maintainer Path (4-6 hours)

1. BRANCHING_STRATEGY.md (full read) (60 min)
   ↓
2. BRANCH_PROTECTION_SETUP.md (30 min)
   ↓
3. MIGRATION_GUIDE.md (maintainer sections) (30 min)
   ↓
4. Configure: Set up branch protection
   ↓
5. Test: Simulate complete release cycle
   ↓
6. Document: Any organization-specific additions

📝 Additional Resources

Related Documents in Repository

• README.md - Main project README with strategy links
• CONTRIBUTING.md - Contribution guidelines
• SECURITY.md - Security policy (related to hotfixes)
• CHANGELOG.md - Release history examples

Configuration Files

• .github/CODEOWNERS - Code ownership configuration
• .github/workflows/develop-ci.yml.example - CI workflow example

External Resources

• Git Flow Model - Original blog post by Vincent Driessen
• Semantic Versioning - Version numbering specification
• Conventional Commits - Commit message format
• GitHub Branch Protection

💬 Getting Help

Where to Ask Questions

About the branching strategy:

• 💬 GitHub Discussions
• 🏷️ Label: branching-strategy

About migrating PRs:

• 💬 GitHub Discussions
• 🏷️ Label: branching-migration

General contribution questions:

• 💬 GitHub Discussions
• 📖 Read: CONTRIBUTING.md

Found errors in documentation:

• 🐛 Create an issue with label documentation

🔄 Document Updates

Version History

Date	Version	Changes
2025-12-30	1.0	Initial branching strategy documentation

Review Schedule

These documents should be reviewed:

• Quarterly - Check if strategy is working well
• After major releases - Update examples
• When feedback received - Improve clarity

Feedback

We welcome feedback on this documentation!

• ✅ What worked well?
• ❌ What was confusing?
• 💡 What's missing?
• 📝 Suggestions for improvement?

Submit feedback:

• Open an issue with label documentation
• Comment in GitHub Discussions

✅ Documentation Checklist

Use this checklist when reading the documentation:

First Time Setup

• Read implementation summary
• Review visual guide
• Read complete strategy (DE or EN)
• Print quick reference
• Bookmark this index
• Join GitHub Discussions

Before Contributing

• Understand branch types
• Know which branch to target
• Familiar with PR process
• Know commit message format
• Aware of code quality checks

Regular Reference

• Quick reference is easily accessible
• Know where to find specific workflows
• Understand troubleshooting steps
• Know where to ask questions

🏆 Best Practices Reminder

Always remember:

1. ✅ Feature branches branch from develop
2. ✅ PRs target develop (not main)
3. ✅ main branch is for releases only
4. ✅ Hotfixes are urgent and go to main + develop
5. ✅ Release branches prepare for production

🔗 Quick Links Table

Need	Document	Section
🎯 Overview	Implementation Summary	All
📊 Visual Flow	Visual Guide	All
📖 Complete Guide	Strategy (DE) or Strategy (EN)	All
⚡ Quick Commands	Quick Reference	Common Commands
🔄 Migrating	Migration Guide	For Contributors
🛡️ Setup Protection	Branch Protection	Quick Setup
🤝 Contributing	Contributing Guide	Development Workflow
🔀 Merge Strategy	Merge Quick Ref	All
⚙️ GitHub Settings	GitHub Config	All

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📄 Print-Friendly Documents

These documents are optimized for printing:

1. BRANCHING_QUICK_REF.md - One page reference
2. MERGE_STRATEGY_QUICK_REF.md - Merge strategy reference 🆕
3. BRANCHING_VISUAL_GUIDE.md - Visual diagrams
4. BRANCHING_IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md - Overview

To print:

1. Open document in browser
2. Press Ctrl+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+P (Mac)
3. Select "Save as PDF"

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Last Updated: 2026-04-06
Maintainer: ThemisDB Documentation Team
Questions? Open a discussion

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⭐ Tip: Bookmark this page! It's your central hub for all branching documentation.