Trunk-Based Development
Explore the trunk-based development model, short-lived branches, and feature flags as a lightweight alternative to Gitflow.
Trunk-Based Development is a free DevOps Bootcamp lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 4 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the DevOps Bootcamp learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
What is Trunk-Based Development?
Trunk-based development is a branching strategy where all developers integrate small changes into a single shared branch (the trunk, usually main) very frequently.
It favors many small merges over long-lived branches.
Why Avoid Long-Lived Branches?
Branches that live for weeks drift far from main, causing painful merges.
- More conflicts the longer a branch lives
- Integration risk is hidden until the end
- Code review queues grow huge
Short-Lived Branches
In trunk-based development, branches live hours to a day or two, then merge back. Create one, do focused work, merge fast.
git checkout -b add-login
# small focused change
git commit -m 'Add login button'
git push origin add-loginCommitting Directly to Trunk
Small, low-risk teams sometimes commit directly to main behind a fast CI gate. Every commit must keep the trunk releasable.
git checkout main
git pull --rebase
git commit -m 'Fix typo in footer'
git pushFeature Flags
Incomplete features still merge to trunk, but stay hidden behind a feature flag until ready. This decouples deploy from release.
if (featureFlags.newCheckout) {
renderNewCheckout();
} else {
renderOldCheckout();
}Continuous Integration is Mandatory
Because everyone merges to trunk constantly, automated tests on every push are essential to keep main green and deployable.
Trunk-Based vs. Gitflow
Gitflow uses many long-lived branches (develop, release, feature). Trunk-based uses one main branch and tiny short branches.
- Trunk-based suits continuous delivery
- Gitflow suits scheduled, versioned releases
Release Branches as an Exception
Trunk-based teams may cut a short release branch only to stabilize a version, cherry-picking fixes back into it.
git checkout -b release/1.4 mainKeeping Branches in Sync
Rebase short-lived branches onto the latest trunk before merging to minimize conflicts.
git fetch origin
git rebase origin/mainMerging Back Quickly
Once CI passes, merge the short-lived branch and delete it. The cycle restarts with a fresh branch.
git checkout main
git merge --no-ff add-login
git branch -d add-loginWhen to Choose Trunk-Based
Pick trunk-based development when you ship often, have strong CI, and want to avoid merge hell. It pairs naturally with continuous deployment.
Quick Check
Test your understanding of trunk-based development.
Recap
You learned the trunk-based model:
- One shared trunk, many tiny short-lived branches
- Feature flags hide unfinished work
- Strong CI keeps trunk always releasable
- It contrasts with Gitflow's long-lived branches
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Trunk-Based Development” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Trunk-Based Development” is free to read here on the web, and the DevOps Bootcamp course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the DevOps Bootcamp course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Trunk-Based Development”?
Explore the trunk-based development model, short-lived branches, and feature flags as a lightweight alternative to Gitflow. You practise DevOps Bootcamp with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start DevOps Bootcamp?
No prior experience is required. DevOps Bootcamp on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 4 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Trunk-Based Development” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this DevOps Bootcamp lesson?
Yes. Every DevOps Bootcamp lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Feature Branch Workflow
- Gitflow Workflow Introduction
- Rebasing vs. Merging
- Trunk-Based Development