Git Flow Branch Creator

Git Flow Branch Analysis Framework

<analysis-framework>
	<branch-types>
		<feature>
			<purpose>New features, enhancements, non-critical improvements</purpose>
			<branch-from>develop</branch-from>
			<merge-to>develop</merge-to>
			<naming>feature/descriptive-name or feature/ticket-number-description</naming>
			<indicators>
				<indicator>New functionality being added</indicator>
				<indicator>UI/UX improvements</indicator>
				<indicator>New API endpoints or methods</indicator>
				<indicator>Database schema additions (non-breaking)</indicator>
				<indicator>New configuration options</indicator>
				<indicator>Performance improvements (non-critical)</indicator>
			</indicators>
		</feature>

		<release>
			<purpose>Release preparation, version bumps, final testing</purpose>
			<branch-from>develop</branch-from>
			<merge-to>develop AND master</merge-to>
			<naming>release-X.Y.Z</naming>
			<indicators>
				<indicator>Version number changes</indicator>
				<indicator>Build configuration updates</indicator>
				<indicator>Documentation finalization</indicator>
				<indicator>Minor bug fixes before release</indicator>
				<indicator>Release notes updates</indicator>
				<indicator>Dependency version locks</indicator>
			</indicators>
		</release>

		<hotfix>
			<purpose>Critical production bug fixes requiring immediate deployment</purpose>
			<branch-from>master</branch-from>
			<merge-to>develop AND master</merge-to>
			<naming>hotfix-X.Y.Z or hotfix/critical-issue-description</naming>
			<indicators>
				<indicator>Security vulnerability fixes</indicator>
				<indicator>Critical production bugs</indicator>
				<indicator>Data corruption fixes</indicator>
				<indicator>Service outage resolution</indicator>
				<indicator>Emergency configuration changes</indicator>
			</indicators>
		</hotfix>
	</branch-types>
</analysis-framework>

Branch Naming Conventions

<naming-conventions>
	<feature-branches>
		<format>feature/[ticket-number-]descriptive-name</format>
		<examples>
			<example>feature/user-authentication</example>
			<example>feature/PROJ-123-shopping-cart</example>
			<example>feature/api-rate-limiting</example>
			<example>feature/dashboard-redesign</example>
		</examples>
	</feature-branches>

	<release-branches>
		<format>release-X.Y.Z</format>
		<examples>
			<example>release-1.2.0</example>
			<example>release-2.1.0</example>
			<example>release-1.0.0</example>
		</examples>
	</release-branches>

	<hotfix-branches>
		<format>hotfix-X.Y.Z OR hotfix/critical-description</format>
		<examples>
			<example>hotfix-1.2.1</example>
			<example>hotfix/security-patch</example>
			<example>hotfix/payment-gateway-fix</example>
			<example>hotfix-2.1.1</example>
		</examples>
	</hotfix-branches>
</naming-conventions>

Analysis Process

<analysis-process>
	<step-1>
		<title>Change Nature Analysis</title>
		<description>Examine the types of files modified and the nature of changes</description>
		<criteria>
			<files-modified>Look at file extensions, directory structure, and purpose</files-modified>
			<change-scope>Determine if changes are additive, corrective, or preparatory</change-scope>
			<urgency-level>Assess if changes address critical issues or are developmental</urgency-level>
		</criteria>
	</step-1>

	<step-2>
		<title>Git Flow Classification</title>
		<description>Map the changes to appropriate Git Flow branch type</description>
		<decision-tree>
			<question>Are these critical fixes for production issues?</question>
			<if-yes>Consider hotfix branch</if-yes>
			<if-no>
				<question>Are these release preparation changes (version bumps, final tweaks)?</question>
				<if-yes>Consider release branch</if-yes>
				<if-no>Default to feature branch</if-no>
			</if-no>
		</decision-tree>
	</step-2>

	<step-3>
		<title>Branch Name Generation</title>
		<description>Create semantic, descriptive branch name</description>
		<guidelines>
			<use-kebab-case>Use lowercase with hyphens</use-kebab-case>
			<be-descriptive>Name should clearly indicate the purpose</be-descriptive>
			<include-context>Add ticket numbers or project context when available</include-context>
			<keep-concise>Avoid overly long names</keep-concise>
		</guidelines>
	</step-3>
</analysis-process>

Edge Cases and Validation

<edge-cases>
	<mixed-changes>
		<scenario>Changes include both features and bug fixes</scenario>
		<resolution>Prioritize the most significant change type or suggest splitting into multiple branches</resolution>
	</mixed-changes>

	<no-changes>
		<scenario>No changes detected in git status/diff</scenario>
		<resolution>Inform user and suggest checking git status or making changes first</resolution>
	</no-changes>

	<existing-branch>
		<scenario>Already on a feature/hotfix/release branch</scenario>
		<resolution>Analyze if new branch is needed or if current branch is appropriate</resolution>
	</existing-branch>

	<conflicting-names>
		<scenario>Suggested branch name already exists</scenario>
		<resolution>Append incremental suffix or suggest alternative name</resolution>
	</conflicting-names>
</edge-cases>

Examples

<examples>
	<example-1>
		<scenario>Added new user registration API endpoint</scenario>
		<analysis>New functionality, additive changes, not critical</analysis>
		<branch-type>feature</branch-type>
		<branch-name>feature/user-registration-api</branch-name>
		<command>git checkout -b feature/user-registration-api develop</command>
	</example-1>

	<example-2>
		<scenario>Fixed critical security vulnerability in authentication</scenario>
		<analysis>Security fix, critical for production, immediate deployment needed</analysis>
		<branch-type>hotfix</branch-type>
		<branch-name>hotfix/auth-security-patch</branch-name>
		<command>git checkout -b hotfix/auth-security-patch master</command>
	</example-2>

	<example-3>
		<scenario>Updated version to 2.1.0 and finalized release notes</scenario>
		<analysis>Release preparation, version bump, documentation</analysis>
		<branch-type>release</branch-type>
		<branch-name>release-2.1.0</branch-name>
		<command>git checkout -b release-2.1.0 develop</command>
	</example-3>

	<example-4>
		<scenario>Improved database query performance and updated caching</scenario>
		<analysis>Performance improvement, non-critical enhancement</analysis>
		<branch-type>feature</branch-type>
		<branch-name>feature/database-performance-optimization</branch-name>
		<command>git checkout -b feature/database-performance-optimization develop</command>
	</example-4>
</examples>

Validation Checklist

<validation>
	<pre-analysis>
		<check>Repository is in a clean state (no uncommitted changes that would conflict)</check>
		<check>Current branch is appropriate starting point (develop for features/releases, master for hotfixes)</check>
		<check>Remote repository is up to date</check>
	</pre-analysis>

	<analysis-quality>
		<check>Change analysis covers all modified files</check>
		<check>Branch type selection follows Git Flow principles</check>
		<check>Branch name is semantic and follows conventions</check>
		<check>Edge cases are considered and handled</check>
	</analysis-quality>

	<execution-safety>
		<check>Target branch (develop/master) exists and is accessible</check>
		<check>Proposed branch name doesn't conflict with existing branches</check>
		<check>User has appropriate permissions to create branches</check>
	</execution-safety>
</validation>

Final Execution

<execution-protocol>
	<analysis-summary>
		<git-status>Output of git status command</git-status>
		<git-diff>Relevant portions of git diff output</git-diff>
		<change-analysis>Detailed analysis of what changes represent</change-analysis>
		<branch-decision>Explanation of why specific branch type was chosen</branch-decision>
	</analysis-summary>

	<branch-creation>
		<command>git checkout -b [branch-name] [source-branch]</command>
		<confirmation>Verify branch creation and current branch status</confirmation>
		<next-steps>Provide guidance on next actions (commit changes, push branch, etc.)</next-steps>
	</branch-creation>

	<fallback-options>
		<alternative-names>Suggest 2-3 alternative branch names if primary suggestion isn't suitable</alternative-names>
		<manual-override>Allow user to specify different branch type if analysis seems incorrect</manual-override>
	</fallback-options>
</execution-protocol>

Git Flow Reference

<gitflow-reference>
	<main-branches>
		<master>Production-ready code, every commit is a release</master>
		<develop>Integration branch for features, latest development changes</develop>
	</main-branches>

	<supporting-branches>
		<feature>Branch from develop, merge back to develop</feature>
		<release>Branch from develop, merge to both develop and master</release>
		<hotfix>Branch from master, merge to both develop and master</hotfix>
	</supporting-branches>

	<merge-strategy>
		<flag>Always use --no-ff flag to preserve branch history</flag>
		<tagging>Tag releases on master branch</tagging>
		<cleanup>Delete branches after successful merge</cleanup>
	</merge-strategy>
</gitflow-reference>