For merge you end up with this nonsense of mixed commits and merge commits like A->D->B->B’->E->F->C->C’ where the ones with the apostrophe are merge commits.
Your notation does not make sense. You’re representing a multi-dimensional thing in one dimension. Of course it’s a mess if you do that.
Your example is also missing a crucial fact required when reasoning about merges: The merge base.
Typically a branch is “branched off” from some commit M. D’s and A’s parent would be M (though there could be any amount of commits between A and M). Since A is “on the main branch”, you can conclude that D is part of a “patch branch”. It’s quite clear if you don’t omit this fact.
I also don’t understand why your example would have multiple merges.
Here’s my example of a main branch with a patch branch; in 2D because merges can’t properly be represented in one dimension:
M - A - B - C - C'
\ /
D - E - F
The final code ought to look the same, but now if you’re debugging you can’t separate the feature patch from the main path code to see which part was at fault.
If you use a feature branch workflow and your main branch is merged into, you typically want to use first-parent bisects. They’re much faster too.
You’re right, I’m not representing the merge correctly. I was thinking of having multiple merges because for a long running patch branch you might merge main into the patch branch several times before merging the patch branch into main.
I’m so used to rebasing I forgot there’s tools that correctly show all the branching and merges and things.
The thing is, you can get your cake and eat it too. Rebase your feature branches while in development and then merge them to the main branch when they’re done.
Your notation does not make sense. You’re representing a multi-dimensional thing in one dimension. Of course it’s a mess if you do that.
Your example is also missing a crucial fact required when reasoning about merges: The merge base.
Typically a branch is “branched off” from some commit M. D’s and A’s parent would be M (though there could be any amount of commits between A and M). Since A is “on the main branch”, you can conclude that D is part of a “patch branch”. It’s quite clear if you don’t omit this fact.
I also don’t understand why your example would have multiple merges.
Here’s my example of a main branch with a patch branch; in 2D because merges can’t properly be represented in one dimension:
M - A - B - C - C' \ / D - E - FIf you use a feature branch workflow and your main branch is merged into, you typically want to use first-parent bisects. They’re much faster too.
You’re right, I’m not representing the merge correctly. I was thinking of having multiple merges because for a long running patch branch you might merge main into the patch branch several times before merging the patch branch into main.
I’m so used to rebasing I forgot there’s tools that correctly show all the branching and merges and things.
Idk, I just like rebase’s behavior over merge.
The thing is, you can get your cake and eat it too. Rebase your feature branches while in development and then merge them to the main branch when they’re done.
👏 Super duper this is the way. No notes!