Git Branching Fundamentals
📌 A branch is a separation used to develop new features or introduce breaking changes without affecting the existing, stable code base (usually the `main` or `master` branch).
🚗 The Uber example illustrates branching: developing "Uber Bikes" in a separate branch ensures the stable "Uber Cabs" functionality is unaffected until the new feature is fully tested and merged.
🔄 Once development on a feature branch is complete and confident, the changes are merged back into the main branch, and the feature branch can often be deleted.

Core Branching Strategies
📌 Master/Main Branch: This branch is reserved for active development and must always be kept up-to-date with the latest stable code changes.
✨ Feature Branches: Created for introducing new features or significant changes; multiple developers can collaborate on these branches independently.
🚢 Release Branches: Created from `master` when preparing for a customer release (e.g., `release 1.27`); this branch is frozen for new development to allow for rigorous testing (end-to-end and functional).

Advanced Branching and Maintenance
🚨 Hotfix Branches: Short-lived branches created immediately to address critical bugs found in production/release code.
➡️ Hotfix changes must be merged back into both the current release branch and the master branch to ensure all stable versions are corrected.
🌐 Kubernetes is used as a practical example of a large open-source project utilizing this multi-branching model to manage contributions from over 3,300 contributors.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ The primary goal of any branching strategy is to ensure the timely delivery of features and maintain customer satisfaction.
➡️ When demonstrating branching strategy in interviews, emphasize the roles of Master, Feature, Release, and Hotfix branches.
➡️ Always ensure that changes made in auxiliary branches (Feature, Hotfix) are cascaded back and merged into the master branch to maintain its currency.
➡️ Releases should always be built and shipped from dedicated release branches, never directly from `master`, because `master` remains open for active development.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Nov 09, 2025, 06:19 UTC