Hotfix branches are necessary for addressing critical issues or bugs that need to be resolved immediately. These branches allow quick fixes to be applied to the main branch while keeping the ongoing development in feature branches uninterrupted. Hotfixes should be used sparingly and only for urgent fixes that cannot wait for a normal feature or bugfix cycle.
Tasks:
Define Hotfix Branch Naming Convention:
Hotfix branches should follow a standardized naming pattern to ensure clarity:
hotfix/{issue-description}
Examples:
hotfix/fix-critical-security-bug
hotfix/fix-memory-leak
Create Hotfix Branch:
Hotfix branches should be created from the latest stable version of the main branch.
Ensure the hotfix branch is isolated from ongoing feature development.
Implement and Test Hotfix:
Implement the necessary changes to resolve the critical issue in the hotfix branch.
Write unit tests and perform thorough testing to ensure the issue is resolved without introducing new bugs.
Run automated tests to ensure that the fix doesn’t affect other parts of the system.
Merge Hotfix Branch into Main Branch:
Once the hotfix is complete and fully tested, create a pull request to merge the hotfix branch into the main branch.
Ensure the pull request includes:
A description of the fix.
References to related issues (e.g., "Closes #456").
Confirmation that the fix has been tested and verified.
Have at least one other team member review the changes before merging.
Propagate Hotfix to Other Branches:
After merging the hotfix into the main branch, the changes should be propagated to any affected feature branches.
If there are significant differences between branches, ensure that the hotfix is integrated correctly in each relevant branch.
Tag Release:
After the hotfix is merged, create a tag in the repository to mark the new release version.
Ensure that release notes are updated to reflect the hotfix and its changes.
Clean Up Hotfix Branch:
Once the hotfix is merged and the new release is tagged, delete the hotfix branch to keep the repository clean.
Archive or document the changes if necessary to maintain a history of critical fixes.
CI/CD Pipeline for Hotfixes:
Ensure that the CI/CD pipeline is configured to handle hotfix branches.
The pipeline should automatically run tests and deploy the hotfix to production environments once the changes are merged.
Documentation and Communication:
Update documentation and communicate the hotfix to all relevant stakeholders (e.g., product owners, QA, operations).
Ensure the documentation reflects what the hotfix addresses and any side effects that were mitigated.
Acceptance Criteria:
[ ] Hotfix branches are created from the latest stable version of the main branch.
[ ] Naming conventions for hotfix branches are followed.
[ ] Hotfixes are tested, reviewed, and merged into the main branch without affecting ongoing development.
[ ] Hotfixes are propagated to relevant branches after merging into the main branch.
[ ] The repository is tagged for the new release after the hotfix is applied.
[ ] CI/CD pipelines are in place for testing and deploying hotfixes.
[ ] Hotfix branch is deleted after the fix is merged and released.
Hotfix Branches
Description:
Hotfix branches are necessary for addressing critical issues or bugs that need to be resolved immediately. These branches allow quick fixes to be applied to the main branch while keeping the ongoing development in feature branches uninterrupted. Hotfixes should be used sparingly and only for urgent fixes that cannot wait for a normal feature or bugfix cycle.
Tasks:
Define Hotfix Branch Naming Convention:
hotfix/{issue-description}hotfix/fix-critical-security-bughotfix/fix-memory-leakCreate Hotfix Branch:
Implement and Test Hotfix:
Merge Hotfix Branch into Main Branch:
Propagate Hotfix to Other Branches:
Tag Release:
Clean Up Hotfix Branch:
CI/CD Pipeline for Hotfixes:
Documentation and Communication:
Acceptance Criteria:
References: