X'inhu trunk-based development u kif huwa jappoġġa CI/CD?

Question

Accepted Answer

**Trunk-based development** hija strateġija ta' branching fejn id-developers jintegraw bidla żgħira **ta' minn kuljum f'branju prinċipali wieħed (trunk)**, billi jużaw brinches ta' ħajja qasira ħafna (jew jikkommitjaw direttament). Hija assoċjata b'mod qawwi ma' CI/CD ta' prestazzjoni għolja minħabba li ttamassimizza l-integrazzjoni kontinwa.

## X'inhu trunk-based development

```text
Developers commit small, frequent changes to a SINGLE shared branch (trunk/main):
  → very SHORT-LIVED branches (merged within hours or a day) — or commit directly
  → integrate continuously (multiple times a day) into trunk
  → trunk is kept always RELEASABLE (working, deployable)
→ vs long-lived feature branches that diverge for days/weeks before merging.
```

## Kif huwa jappoġġa CI/CD sew

```text
✓ MAXIMIZES continuous INTEGRATION — frequent small merges = the essence of CI
  (catch integration issues immediately; tiny, easy-to-resolve conflicts)
✓ AVOIDS "merge hell" — no long-lived branches diverging → no big painful merges
✓ Small changes = lower risk, easier review, faster feedback
✓ Keeps trunk always deployable → enables continuous DELIVERY/deployment
→ Research (DORA) links trunk-based development to high delivery performance.
```

## L-ippanjar ta' xogħol inkomplet

```text
How to commit to trunk frequently when features aren't done?
  ✓ FEATURE FLAGS → merge incomplete features hidden behind off flags (don't break trunk)
  ✓ Break work into small, independently-mergeable, non-breaking pieces
  ✓ Branch by ABSTRACTION → introduce changes incrementally behind abstractions
→ The discipline: integrate small, keep trunk working, hide incomplete work.
```

## Trunk-based vs feature-branch (Git Flow)

```text
TRUNK-BASED → short-lived branches, frequent integration, continuous delivery,
  feature flags — favored for high-velocity CI/CD
GIT FLOW (long-lived branches) → more structured, release-oriented, but longer
  divergence and bigger merges → less continuous
→ Trunk-based is generally preferred for true CI/CD; Git Flow for scheduled releases.
```

## Għaliex hu importanti

L-għarfien ta' trunk-based development huwa għarfien ta' livell anzjan validu minħabba li huwa **assoċjat b'mod qawwi ma' CI/CD ta' prestazzjoni għolja** u jirrappreżenta filosofija ta' branching importanti, għalhekk huwa utli biex tifhem prattiċi ta' delivering effettiv.

L-idea qalb — id-developers jintegraw **bidla żgħira ta' minn kuljum f'trunk wieħed** billi jużaw brinches ta' ħajja qasira ħafna (għalkemm mhux brinches ta' ħajja twila li jiddiverdżaw għal ġranet jew ġimgħat) — direttament **ttamassimizza l-integrazzjoni kontinwa**, li hija l-essenza ta' CI: merging friska u żgħira ta' minn kuljum jaqbdu ħinxirof ta' integrazzjoni immedjatament u jiprodużu konflikti żgħira u faċli biex issolvu, **iwaqqfu l-