Monstrous Git Merge Strategies: Navigating the Dungeons of Version Control
Tags: git, gitkraken, programming, beginners
Published: 2023-08-18 13:00:00

Hello there, TheZal here! Today, we're going deep inside the Dungeons of Version Control: which monsters we will have to face? How can we defeat them? What are the best strategies to use? Let's find out!

<p align="center">
  <img
    src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNTMyMDdmMDEwN2Y1MmU3NWZiM2EzOGE3NDZmNDExMmU5MDkxZjMyZCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZzX2dpZklkJmN0PWc/Nx0rz3jtxtEre/giphy.gif"
    alt="Hello There!"
  />
</p>

- [Welcome to the Dungeon!](#welcome-to-the-Dungeon!)
- [The Ooze - Recursive Strategy](#the-ooze---recursive-strategy)
- [The Griffon - Resolve Strategy](#the-griffon---resolve-strategy)
- [The Chimera - Octopus Strategy](#the-chimera---octopus-strategy)
- [The Dragon - Three-way Strategy](#the-dragon---three-way-strategy)
- [The Hydra - Rebase Strategy](#the-hydra---rebase-strategy)
- [The Golem - Merge Strategy](#the-golem---merge-strategy)
- [The Sphinx - Strategy of Strategies](#the-sphinx---strategy-of-strategies)
- [The one to rule them all - GitKraken Client](#the-one-to-rule-them-all---gitkraken-client)
- [Conclusions](#conclusions)

## Welcome to the Dungeon!

<p align="center">
  <img width="480" height="480" src="https://i.gifer.com/Bxe0.gif" alt="Welcome to the Dungeon" />
</p>

In the vast, sprawling realm of version control – you know, where we're wrangling those pesky code changes and diving into the abyss of merge conflicts – brace yourselves for an epic showdown!

Picture this: the nerdiest of battles, straight out of the universe of Dungeons and Dragons, but hold onto your keyboard, because this time, instead of knights and dragons, we've got Git merge strategies duking it out.

And oh boy, they're like the monsters of the coding underworld, each one with their own quirks and tricks, all designed to tame the wild beast that is our codebase!

So, buckle up, dear fellow developers, as we embark on a journey through this realm of monstrous Git merge strategies, and trust me, it's going to be a ride filled with legendary comparisons to our favorite mythical creatures.

## The Ooze - Recursive Strategy

<p align="center">
  <img width="480" height="480" src="https://i.redd.it/1yhpcot46c1b1.gif" alt="The Ooze" />
</p>

Now, picture a murky swamp, where the Ooze reigns supreme – a gooey, gelatinous creature that slithers and engulfs anything that crosses its path.

But guess what? Our Recursive merge strategy is just as adventurous: it dives headfirst into the mess of tangled branches, recursively merging one branch into another until it finds a shared ancestor.

It's like the Ooze, sneaking into every nook and cranny, this strategy is all about that meticulous integration, carefully weaving changes together, but, heed the warning: just like the Ooze can get pretty muddled, the Recursive strategy might lead to a twisty-turny history that's hard to follow!

This strategy is used in Git to handle merge conflicts: when two branches have changes that can't be automatically merged, the recursive strategy attempts to combine the changes manually. It considers both the base branch and the two branches being merged, analyzing their differences and attempting to apply the changes in a way that preserves the code's functionality.

## The Griffon - Resolve Strategy

<p align="center">
  <img width="480" height="480" src="https://i.makeagif.com/media/12-30-2021/Sjmu2n.gif" alt="The Griffon" />
</p>

Up in the sky, where mountains touch the clouds, you'll find the regal Griffon, a mix of wisdom and decision-making.

Imagine the Resolve strategy embodying this majestic creature – it's all about bold choices, just like the Griffon's decisive flights: this strategy takes sides, picking changes from one team while gracefully navigating conflicts.

It's like having the Griffon swoop down to address the mess, and you know what? It lets developers handpick changes, much like the Griffon's keen eye for detail, but hold on tight, because like the Griffon's watchful vigilance, this strategy demands your attention: you've got to keep an eye out for those sneaky conflicts that might try to slip through!

This is a manual approach to resolving merge conflicts: when the version control system can't automatically determine how to merge changes, it will pause the merge process and ask the developer to resolve the conflicts. The developer reviews the conflicting changes, decides how they should be combined, and then marks the conflicts as resolved.

## The Chimera - Octopus Strategy

<p align="center">
  <img
    width="480"
    height="480"
    src="https://thumbs.gfycat.com/ThickMeekAlaskankleekai-size_restricted.gif"
    alt="The Chimera"
  />
</p>

But wait, a new contender approaches – the Chimera, a fusion of lion, goat, and serpent attributes.

Consider the Octopus strategy a coding counterpart to this amalgam: it combines Recursive and Resolve methods, much like the Chimera's hybrid nature.

Just as the Chimera's heads extend in various directions, the Octopus strategy seamlessly merges multiple branches, skillfully resolving conflicts. However, like the creature's complexity, this strategy can occasionally overwhelm.

The octopus strategy is a way to merge multiple branches into a single branch simultaneously: it's mainly used in scenarios where you need to merge several feature branches into a release branch. This strategy simplifies the process by performing a single merge operation instead of multiple individual ones.

## The Dragon - Three-way Strategy

<p align="center">
  <img
    width="480"
    height="480"
    src="https://media.tenor.com/2WJQ5m3rGh4AAAAC/dnd-dungeons-and-dragons.gif"
    alt="The Dragon"
  />
</p>

Venture forth into the Dragon's realm, where flames guard treasured code: enter the Three-way strategy, a parallel to the Dragon's vigilant watch.

This strategy utilizes a common ancestor to discern and blend changes, resembling the Dragon's multi-headed form: like the Dragon's flames that subdue adversaries, this strategy melts away conflicts with precision, ensuring harmonious code integration.

This is the default merge strategy in Git: it involves comparing three versions of a file: the common ancestor (base) version, the version in the source branch, and the version in the target branch. The goal is to automatically combine changes from both branches whenever possible. If there are conflicts, manual intervention is required.

## The Hydra - Rebase Strategy

<p align="center">
  <img width="480" height="480" src="https://i.gifer.com/7MDO.gif" alt="The Hydra" />
</p>

From the depths of ancient swamps emerges the Hydra, a mythical serpent with regenerating heads. Much like the Hydra's ability to regrow heads, the Rebase strategy allows developers to reposition and rebuild branches atop one another. This strategy resembles the Hydra's resilience, as it maintains the essence of original commits while weaving them into a new, streamlined narrative.

Just as the Hydra's heads can be a challenge to manage, the Rebase strategy requires careful handling. While it creates a cleaner history, it can also lead to intricate merge conflicts if not managed skillfully. Developers must be like cunning warriors, slicing through the Hydra's multiple heads with precision to maintain a coherent and harmonious codebase.

By comparing the Rebase strategy to the Hydra, we can appreciate the strategic finesse required to wield both effectively. Just as heroes face the Hydra's ever-multiplying heads, developers confront intricate merging scenarios, making conscious choices to ensure a successful integration of code changes

Rebasing involves moving the entire history of changes from one branch onto another branch: this makes it seem like the changes were developed linearly on the same branch, resulting in a cleaner and more straightforward history. However, rebasing can rewrite history, so it should be used carefully, especially in shared repositories.

## The Golem - Merge Strategy

<p align="center">
  <img
    width="480"
    height="480"
    src="https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/021/307/724/original/livio-morganti-golem.gif?1598523169"
    alt="The Golem"
  />
</p>

Now, let's warp to a realm where an ancient Golem stands tall, piecing together bits and bobs: this is where the Merge strategy steps in, looking like that stone giant.

It's all about straightforward integration, combining changes from separate branches: reliable and no-nonsense, kinda like the Golem, it stitches code together without much fuss about history.

Although, just like the Golem's moves, it might not be the fanciest, which could mean some hefty commit logs.

The merge strategy refers to the general process of integrating changes from one branch into another: it typically involves creating a new commit that combines the changes from both branches. This can be done with automatic tools or manual intervention, depending on the complexity of the changes and potential conflicts.

## The Sphinx - Strategy of Strategies

<p align="center">
  <img
    width="480"
    height="480"
    src="https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/012/413/424/large/necip-can-karakus-mtg6s.jpg?1534687908"
    alt="The Sphinx"
  />
</p>

And now, we're in a desert filled with riddles, ruled by the Sphinx – a puzzle-loving creature.

The Strategy of Strategies feels like this enigmatic beast, blending various merge techniques for specific situations: it's like the Sphinx's riddles, asking devs to pick the right approach like a boss.

Super versatile, just like the Sphinx's skills, but mastering it might feel a bit like cracking those riddles.

This term is not as commonly used as the others, but it might refer to the idea of combining different merge strategies depending on the context: for instance, you might use a rebase strategy for feature branches that need a linear history, and a recursive strategy for complex code changes with potential conflicts.

## The one to rule them all - GitKraken Client

<p align="center">
  <img width="480" height="480" src="https://i.gifer.com/AN53.gif" alt="The Legendary GitKraken Client" />
</p>

GitKraken, the popular Git client, empowers developers to harness the power of various Git merge strategies to effectively manage code integration and navigate through the complexities of version control. Just like a skilled adventurer equipped with a range of tools, GitKraken offers a user-friendly interface that facilitates the utilization of different merge strategies. Here's how GitKraken handles each of the merge strategies:

1. **Recursive Strategy**: With the Recursive merge strategy, GitKraken intelligently navigates through branches, merging changes from one branch into another until they converge on a common ancestor. GitKraken's visual representation of the branch topology aids developers in understanding the relationships and facilitates smooth recursive merges.

2. **Resolve Strategy**: GitKraken acts as a mediator, guiding developers through the Resolve strategy. It presents conflicts and changes side by side, allowing developers to review, pick, and choose specific changes to integrate from one branch into another. GitKraken's interface streamlines this decision-making process and ensures conflicts are resolved efficiently.

3. **Octopus Strategy**: Combining the strengths of Recursive and Resolve approaches, GitKraken's Octopus-like capabilities allow developers to seamlessly merge multiple branches simultaneously. Its visual merge tool provides an intuitive platform to manage the intricate process of merging multiple branches into a single one.

4. **Three-way Strategy**: When faced with the Dragon-like Three-way merge strategy, GitKraken utilizes the common ancestor approach to identify and merge differences between different versions of the code. Its merge tool facilitates a smooth comparison and blending of changes, ensuring that conflicts are managed effectively.

5. **Merge Strategy**: Just as the steadfast Golem, GitKraken's Merge strategy performs a straightforward integration of changes from separate branches. Its intuitive interface guides developers through combining changes while maintaining the integrity of the existing history.

6. **Strategy of Strategies**: GitKraken's user-friendly approach extends to the Strategy of Strategies, where it offers a selection of merge techniques based on the specific merging scenario. Developers can choose the optimal strategy, leveraging GitKraken's expertise to navigate through the complexities of version control.

By integrating these Git merge strategies seamlessly into its interface, GitKraken empowers developers to confidently manage code integration, resolve conflicts, and maintain a coherent and harmonious codebase. Just as skilled adventurers navigate through the Dungeons and Dragons universe, developers navigate the intricate world of version control with the aid of GitKraken's versatile capabilities.

## Conclusions

<p align="center">
  <img
    width="480"
    height="480"
    src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/e2EUn9eeEPTqZ52X6X/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47p83yss4to7y5hw6d09tfoxhvwv5vrnj9kzyi24os&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g"
    alt="Conclusions"
  />
</p>

So, in this epic version control tale, these monstrous Git merge strategies wander around, each with their strengths and quirks. Picking the right one for your coding crusade ensures your codebase stays lit, kinda like adventurers conquering dungeons and dragons, weaving tales of coding victory and mad skills.

Each strategy has its strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of strategy often depends on the project's needs, team workflow, and the level of complexity in the changes being merged. For instance, the recursive strategy is a good default choice for most projects, but the rebase strategy might be better for feature branches that need a linear history. The octopus strategy is useful for merging multiple branches into a release branch, and the resolve strategy is a good choice for simple merges that don't require a lot of manual intervention.

Which one do you prefer? Feel free to leave a comment here or to reach me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/TheZalDev), [GitHub](https://github.com/TheZal), or [mail](mailto:rick.zal239@gmail.com) and share it with your dev friends!