Explain merge strategy
A merge strategy is a plan or approach for combining multiple versions of a codebase or set of files. It is used when multiple developers or teams are working on the same codebase and need to merge their changes together.
The merge strategy determines how conflicting changes are resolved and how the final merged version is created. There are several merge strategies available, including:
1. Fast-forward merge: This strategy is used when the branches being merged have a linear history and no conflicting changes. The changes from one branch are simply appended to the other branch, creating a straight line of commits.
2. Recursive merge: This strategy is used when the branches to be merged have diverged and contain conflicting changes. The merge algorithm recursively compares the changes in each branch and attempts to automatically merge them. If conflicts are encountered, a human intervention is required to manually resolve them.
3. Squash merge: This strategy combines multiple commits into a single commit. It takes all the changes introduced in a branch and applies them as a single commit on the target branch. This can be useful to maintain a clean commit history and avoid cluttering the repository with multiple small commits.
4. Rebase merge: This strategy allows the changes in one branch to be replayed on top of another branch. It effectively moves the commits from one branch to another, making the commit history appear as if the changes were made directly on the target branch. This can help maintain a linear and cleaner commit history.
The choice of merge strategy depends on various factors, such as the complexity of the changes, the development workflow, and the preferences of the development team.