How to create and merge a feature branch for a WordPress theme-only GitHub repo

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Summary

The task at hand involves creating a new feature branch, making changes to a custom WordPress theme, and merging those changes into the develop branch without affecting other branches or files. The goal is to deploy the updated theme to a staging site via BuddyWorks. Key concepts include working with Git branches, pushing changes to GitHub, and understanding the implications of merging branches.

Root Cause

The root cause of the issue lies in the fact that the local environment contains the full WordPress site, while the GitHub repository only contains the custom theme. This discrepancy can lead to confusion when trying to push changes to GitHub. The main causes of the problem are:

  • The local environment includes the entire WordPress site, not just the theme
  • The GitHub repository only contains the theme, not the full WordPress site
  • The develop branch has a large number of commits ahead of the main branch, causing concerns about merging changes

Why This Happens in Real Systems

This issue occurs in real systems due to the following reasons:

  • Misaligned local and remote repositories: When the local environment and remote repository have different directory structures, it can lead to confusion and errors when trying to push changes
  • Insufficient understanding of Git branches: Not fully grasping how Git branches work can result in unintended changes being pushed to the wrong branches
  • Fear of merging changes: Uncertainty about the implications of merging branches can cause hesitation and mistakes

Real-World Impact

The real-world impact of this issue includes:

  • Delayed deployments: Failing to merge changes correctly can delay the deployment of updates to staging or production sites
  • Broken builds: Pushing incorrect changes can cause builds to break, leading to downtime and lost productivity
  • Version control chaos: Not managing Git branches effectively can lead to a tangled web of commits, making it difficult to track changes and collaborate with team members

Example or Code

# Create a new branch called header-fix
git checkout -b header-fix

# Make changes to template files within the custom theme folder
# ...

# Push changes to GitHub
git add .
git commit -m "Fixed header issues"
git push origin header-fix

# Merge header-fix branch into develop
git checkout develop
git merge header-fix

# Push updated develop branch to GitHub
git push origin develop

How Senior Engineers Fix It

Senior engineers fix this issue by:

  • Understanding the repository structure: Clearly grasping the differences between the local environment and remote repository
  • Using Git branches effectively: Creating and merging branches with confidence, using tools like git checkout, git merge, and git push
  • Communicating with team members: Collaborating with the team to ensure everyone is aware of changes and deployments
  • Testing and verifying changes: Thoroughly testing changes before merging them into other branches

Why Juniors Miss It

Juniors may miss this issue due to:

  • Lack of experience with Git: Limited familiarity with Git branches, commits, and merges
  • Insufficient understanding of repository structure: Not fully grasping the differences between the local environment and remote repository
  • Fear of making mistakes: Uncertainty about the implications of pushing changes or merging branches, leading to hesitation and errors
  • Inadequate testing and verification: Failing to thoroughly test changes before deploying them to staging or production sites