Why Do Developers Use Git Squash and Delete?

In the world of version control, Git has become an essential tool for developers to collaborate and manage codebases efficiently. Among the many features Git offers, squashing commits and deleting branches are widely used practices that help maintain a clean and organized repository. However, if you're wondering why developers squash commits or delete branches after merging, this post will clear up the confusion and explain the practical benefits of these techniques.

🔎 What Is Git Squash?

Git Squash is a process that allows you to combine multiple commits into a single commit. This technique is often used when you have several small, incremental commits that don’t add much value on their own but make more sense as a single logical change.

For example, if you’ve made five commits to fix a bug, instead of keeping all five commits, you can squash them into one clean commit that represents the complete fix.

📚 Benefits of Git Squash:

Keeps the commit history clean: Squashing reduces clutter in your repository by minimizing unnecessary or redundant commits.
Improves readability: A clean history makes it easier for developers to understand what changes were made and why.
Makes code reviews simpler: Code reviewers can focus on the overall change rather than getting bogged down by multiple minor commits.

🔄 How to Squash Commits in Git:

To squash commits, you can use the interactive rebase feature:

# Start an interactive rebase
$ git rebase -i HEAD~n

Replace n with the number of commits you want to squash. In the interactive rebase editor, change the word "pick" to "squash" (or "s") for the commits you want to combine.

Why Do Developers Use Git Squash?

To Keep the Main Branch Clean: When working on a feature branch, you might have multiple commits that include trial-and-error changes. Squashing these commits before merging into the main branch keeps the main branch clean and organized.
To Present a Logical History: Developers often squash commits to present a logical progression of changes. Instead of a long list of small, incremental commits, you get a single, meaningful commit that represents the entire feature or bug fix.
To Avoid Noise in Code Reviews: Having too many small commits can overwhelm code reviewers. By squashing commits, developers provide a concise summary of changes, making the review process more efficient.

🤔 Why Do Developers Delete Branches in Git?

After a feature branch is merged into the main branch, it’s common practice to delete the feature branch. Here’s why:

To Avoid Clutter: Keeping unused branches in a repository can make it messy and hard to navigate. Deleting merged branches helps keep the repo clean and organized.
To Indicate Completion: Deleting a branch signals that the work associated with that branch is complete and merged. This avoids confusion about whether the branch is still active.
To Encourage Fresh Starts: Instead of continuing work on an old branch, deleting it encourages developers to create new branches for new tasks, promoting better branch management practices.

🤔 When to Use Git Squash and Delete

Here are some best practices for using squash and delete in your Git workflow:

Scenario	Use Squash	Delete Branch
Fixing multiple minor bugs	✅	✅
Adding a new feature	✅	✅
Experimenting with changes	✅	✅
Making small typo fixes	❌	❌

🎯 How to Delete a Branch in Git:

Delete a Local Branch:

# Delete a local branch
$ git branch -d branch_name

Delete a Remote Branch:

# Delete a remote branch
$ git push origin --delete branch_name

💡 Git Squash vs. Git Merge – What’s the Difference?

Aspect	Git Squash	Git Merge
Purpose	Combines multiple commits into one	Combines branches and retains history
History	Creates a cleaner commit history	Preserves the entire commit history
Use Case	For cleaning up messy branches	For combining branches without altering history

🚀 Final Thoughts

Git Squash and Delete are powerful tools for keeping your Git repositories clean and efficient. By squashing unnecessary commits, you can simplify your commit history, making it easier for team members to understand changes. Deleting branches after merging ensures your repo remains clutter-free and signals that work is complete.

Incorporating these practices into your Git workflow can significantly improve collaboration, code reviews, and overall project management. So, next time you finish a feature or bug fix, remember to squash your commits and delete that branch!