Trunk Based Development: An In-Depth Guide (2025)

Published on January 24th, 2025

Quick Summary:

Trunk based development has become a key methodology in agile software development, simplifying the process of continuous integration and delivery. This comprehensive guide is designed for developers and teams looking to implement TBD. It covers the process, comparisons with Gitflow, key use cases, advantages, challenges, and the overall impact on development efficiency.

Trunk-based development has revolutionized software development, offering a streamlined approach that enables teams to deliver better products faster and with greater efficiency. This methodology, which originated alongside agile practices and popular tools like Git, focuses on simplifying version control and promoting continuous delivery of high-quality code.

By encouraging developers to work directly from a single shared branch (the “trunk”) and make frequent, smaller integrations, trunk-based development reduces the complexity of merging long-lived feature branches and minimizes integration risks.

This approach has become a cornerstone for many high-performing teams, particularly those embracing DevOps and CI/CD pipelines, as it fosters collaboration, reduces bottlenecks, and accelerates the overall development lifecycle.

If you’re curious about how trunk-based development can benefit your team or looking to refine your software development process, this guide covers everything you need to know. We’ll delve into its key benefits, practical workflows, best practices for implementation, and how it compares to other popular methods like Gitflow to help you make an informed choice for your team.

What is Trunk Based Development? 

Trunk based development is a streamlined and efficient software development method where small, incremental code changes are frequently merged into a central branch, commonly referred to as the “trunk” or “mainline.” This approach emphasizes continuous integration, ensuring that the codebase is always up-to-date and minimizing the risk of integration conflicts. By merging changes frequently, teams avoid the complexity of long-lived feature branches and reduce the likelihood of encountering complicated merges.

This method encourages collaboration and faster feedback, making it easier to identify and address issues early in the development lifecycle. Trunk based development also ensures that the codebase is always in a deployable state, enabling teams to deliver value to production more quickly and reliably. It’s a foundational practice for modern DevOps and continuous delivery workflows.

Key Features of Trunk Based Development: 

• Frequent Merging: Changes are integrated into the trunk daily to encourage faster iterations. 
• Collaboration: Developers work together on short-lived branches or directly on the trunk. 
• Simplified Workflows: Streamlined processes reduce complexity in development tasks. 
• Real-Time Integration: Updates are merged quickly to catch and resolve issues early. 
• Faster Delivery: Enables continuous delivery of high-quality software.

How Does Trunk Based Development Work? 

Trunk based development is an approach to software development that emphasizes collaboration, speed, and stability by focusing on a central codebase (the trunk). Here’s a step-by-step overview of how it works effectively:

• Develop on a Central Trunk: Developers work directly on the trunk or use short-lived, temporary branches that are frequently merged back into the trunk. This ensures that the team is always working on the most up-to-date version of the code, avoiding long-lived branches that can lead to merge conflicts or delays.

• Code Review and Integration: Every change goes through a thorough review and testing process before being added to the trunk. This step ensures that the code maintains high quality, consistency, and doesn’t break existing functionality. It also fosters collaboration among team members, as everyone contributes to maintaining a clean, stable trunk.

• Continuous Testing: Small, incremental updates are submitted and tested regularly. Automated testing tools often play a crucial role here, detecting bugs or integration issues early in the process. This approach significantly reduces the risk of major problems building up over time, making debugging faster and easier.

• Live Environment Ready: With continuous integration practices in place, the trunk remains stable and production-ready at all times. Teams can confidently deploy updates to a live environment without fear of last-minute surprises, allowing for faster release cycles and improved user experiences.

By focusing on small, manageable updates and frequent collaboration, trunk-based development helps teams save time, reduce errors, and foster a more efficient development process. It’s a practice that encourages teamwork, proactive problem-solving, and adaptability, making it a popular choice for modern Agile and DevOps workflows.

Gitflow vs. Trunk Based Development

Gitflow and Trunk Based Development are two distinct strategies for managing version control and workflow. While Gitflow focuses on multiple long-lived branches for features, releases, and hotfixes, Trunk Based Development simplifies the workflow by maintaining a single central branch.

Gitflow

Gitflow is an alternative to Trunk Based Development that introduces long-lived feature branches and provides a more structured approach to managing code releases. It’s designed to handle multiple types of code changes (features, updates, bug fixes) through dedicated branches.

• Feature branches: Long-lived, worked on until they are ready for integration.
• Merges: Features are merged into the main branch only once they are complete, requiring careful coordination to avoid conflicts.
• Collaboration: Enhanced collaboration is needed to ensure stability, as deviations from the trunk branch can pose risks.
• Complexity: The branching model can become complex with distinct branches for different code types (feature, release, hotfix) and demands additional planning and quality analysis.

Trunk Based Development

Trunk Based Development simplifies version control by focusing on one central branch (main). The mainline is kept consistent, error-free, and always ready for deployment.

• Feature branches: Short-lived, created briefly for each new feature and merged back into the main trunk frequently.
• Merges: Continuous integration ensures frequent merges, making the codebase production-ready at all times.
• Collaboration: Requires less overhead for coordination, as the main branch is always stable and up-to-date.
• Simplicity: Streamlined workflow with fewer branches, making it easier to manage and deploy.

Comparison Table:

Benefits of Trunk Based Development

1. Faster Feedback Loops

Frequent updates mean developers receive consistent feedback on their changes, enabling quick improvements before moving forward. With shorter cycles between code submissions and integration, issues can be identified and fixed early, reducing the risk of larger problems down the line.

2. Improved Collaboration

A shared codebase encourages teamwork, with developers learning from one another while maintaining a synchronized workflow. This approach also fosters cross-functional communication, as everyone is aligned on the project’s direction, making it easier to adapt to changes or address challenges collaboratively.

3. Easier Code Management

By minimizing reliance on long-lived feature branches, trunk-based development avoids complex merges, leading to cleaner, more manageable codebases. Developers can focus on incremental changes rather than dealing with the stress of resolving conflicts from outdated branches, ultimately improving productivity and efficiency.

4. Accelerated Releases

With a production-ready trunk, teams can deploy new code and features faster, responding promptly to market demands. This ability to release updates quickly not only keeps end-users satisfied but also allows businesses to stay competitive by adapting to shifts in consumer needs or industry trends.

5. Enhanced Code Quality

Frequent integration coupled with continuous testing results in improved code quality, fostering trust in the development process. Developers can confidently deliver code knowing that automated tests and regular feedback loops will catch errors early, maintaining a high standard for the overall project.

Principles of Trunk Based Development 

Trunk based development is a modern approach to software development that emphasizes streamlined collaboration and faster delivery. To succeed with this methodology, teams must adhere to the following principles:

• Centralized Source of Truth: The trunk (or main branch) serves as the single authoritative version of the codebase. All developers commit their code to this trunk, ensuring there is always one consistent and reliable source of truth for the entire team. This eliminates confusion caused by multiple branches and minimizes integration pain points. 

• Continuous Integration: Developers integrate their work into the trunk multiple times a day, often several times per developer. By committing frequently, teams can detect integration issues early, before they escalate into larger problems. This practice promotes collaboration and ensures that the codebase is always in a deployable state. 

• Incremental Changes: Developers make small, self-contained updates to the codebase, rather than working on large, complex features for extended periods. This reduces the risk of conflicts, simplifies integration, and makes it easier to review and test changes quickly. Incremental changes keep the development process agile and adaptive. 

• Feature Toggles: Teams implement feature toggles (or flags) to control which features are visible or active in production. This allows developers to merge incomplete features into the trunk without affecting end users, enabling gradual feature rollouts and safer experimentation. Feature toggles also make it easier to switch off a malfunctioning feature without rolling back the entire codebase. 

• Maintaining Trunk Stability: A stable trunk is paramount for the success of trunk-based development. Teams achieve this by integrating and testing code frequently, resolving bugs immediately, and avoiding long-lived feature branches. A stable trunk builds trust and ensures the entire team can work confidently without interruptions. 

• Regular Testing: Frequent and automated testing is vital in trunk-based development. Automated tests, including unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests, verify that changes don’t introduce defects into the system. Early detection and mitigation of issues help maintain the quality of the codebase and reduce the risk of production failures. 

By following these principles, both large enterprises and small teams can streamline their software delivery lifecycle, reduce bottlenecks, and accelerate the pace of innovation. Trunk-based development fosters collaboration, lowers risk, and helps teams deliver high-quality software faster.

Real-Life Use Cases of Trunk Based Development 

Trunk based development has become the backbone of modern software development, enabling leading tech companies to deliver high-quality, fast-paced innovation while maintaining reliability and scalability. Here’s how some of the biggest names in tech leverage this approach:

• Google 

With one of the largest codebases in the world, Google relies on trunk-based development to handle constant updates across its platforms and services. This approach ensures that changes are integrated quickly and tested efficiently, allowing Google to maintain its reputation for innovation and reliability while scaling its operations globally.

• Facebook 

Facebook’s developers work on short-lived branches, frequently merging changes into the main trunk. This process not only minimizes conflicts but also ensures a steady stream of updates for users. By using trunk-based development, Facebook can roll out new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes at an incredible pace, keeping its platform cutting-edge and responsive to user needs.

• Spotify 

Spotify’s trunk-based development practices allow its teams to continuously integrate small updates into the mainline. This method supports their agile development cycles, enabling regular feature additions and gathering rapid user feedback. By integrating quickly, Spotify ensures that its platform adapts seamlessly to user preferences while minimizing downtime and errors.

• Amazon 

Amazon employs trunk based development to support its highly effective continuous deployment model. This enables the delivery of features and bug fixes across its vast range of services, such as AWS, Prime Video, and its e-commerce platform, with remarkable speed and efficiency. By integrating changes frequently, Amazon ensures that its systems remain scalable and responsive to customer demands.

• Netflix 

Netflix leverages trunk based development to maintain its high release velocity, allowing developers to push updates without disrupting the user experience. This approach is critical for a streaming service that depends on seamless functionality and personalized recommendations. Trunk based development empowers Netflix to deliver new features, interface improvements, and bug fixes rapidly, ensuring an exceptional experience for millions of users worldwide. 

By adopting trunk based development, these companies demonstrate how this approach can drive innovation at scale, reduce conflicts, and maintain a culture of continuous improvement.

Possible Challenges of Trunk Based Development Approach

When adopting the trunk based development approach, development teams may encounter various difficulties. Below is a detailed explanation of these potential challenges:

• Test Scope & Quality Analysis

With trunk based development, every change made to the main branch must be thoroughly tested. This requires performing integration, regression, and unit testing to ensure the code’s quality. To mitigate this challenge, teams should invest in automated testing frameworks, implement robust QA processes, and continuously maintain the repository.

• Code Contradictions

Collating code from multiple developers working in the same area can lead to conflicts. To avoid such issues, teams need clear communication channels and should conduct regular code reviews to ensure alignment and prevent code conflicts.

• Developer Communication and Coordination

Frequent merging into the main branch necessitates strong communication and coordination among team members. Developers must be informed of each other’s changes in real time. Establishing clear code review guidelines, holding regular sync meetings, and using collaboration tools can help streamline this process.

• Managing Feature Toggles

Implementing and managing different feature toggles can become complex. Developers must ensure proper toggle management to maintain stable and functional releases. This involves carefully handling feature flags to avoid disruptions during deployments.

• Continuous Integration Challenges

Trunk based development emphasizes continuous integration, which means that merging into the main branch happens frequently. This requires teams to have a stable and fast build pipeline to prevent delays and keep the main branch production-ready at all times.

Conclusion:

Trunk based development has revolutionized modern software practices, turning them into a highly collaborative, efficient, and innovative process. By focusing on a shared codebase and minimizing long-lived branches, this approach encourages better teamwork, faster integration, and fewer merge conflicts.

Whether you’re part of a fast-moving startup or a large, complex enterprise, adopting this method can streamline your workflows, improve code quality, and significantly enhance your team’s productivity. It also accelerates your time-to-market, helping you deliver value to your customers more quickly and stay ahead in a competitive landscape.

Transform Your Development Journey with iTechnolabs

At iTechnolabs, we specialize in cutting-edge software solutions that drive innovation and efficiency. With our expertise in Trunk Based Development, Gitflow, and agile methodologies, we ensure seamless collaboration, rapid deployment, and high-quality results. Partner with us to transform your ideas into robust, scalable applications that meet your business needs.

FAQ’s

What Does a Version Control System Do? 

A Version Control System (VCS) is a powerful tool that helps development teams manage and track changes in their source code. Think of it as a time machine for your projects—allowing you to monitor every file modification, revert to previous versions, track progress, and identify errors with ease. 

What Is a Branch in Version Control? 

A branch is essentially a separate version of your main source code. Developers commonly use branches to test new features, fix bugs, or experiment with updates without altering the original codebase. This creates a safe space for changes and ensures ongoing work remains separate from the stable, tested code. 

What Is Code Branching and Merging? 

Code branching refers to creating a copy of the original code to test new ideas or implement changes without disrupting the existing project. Merging, on the other hand, involves combining the changes made on the branch back into the main codebase. During this process, any conflicts between changes are resolved to ensure a smooth integration. 

Is GitHub Flow the Same as Trunk-Based Development? 

No, GitHub Flow and trunk based development are different methodologies. While both utilize temporary feature branches, trunk-based development emphasizes frequent integration into the main branch for continuous deployment. The choice between the two depends on the specific needs of your project. 

How Does a Version Control System Improve Team Collaboration? 

VCS tools enhance team collaboration by enabling multiple developers to work on the same project simultaneously. Each team member can create their own branch, make changes, and merge updates, ensuring conflicts are resolved efficiently. This streamlined workflow keeps everyone aligned while minimizing disruptions to the codebase.