What is trunk-based CI?

It is a development practice where developers integrate small, frequent changes directly into a single shared trunk branch, validated by continuous integration, instead of working in long-lived feature branches.

Why is trunk-based CI considered a high-performance practice?

DORA research has repeatedly found trunk-based development correlates with elite software delivery performance, largely because it minimizes integration pain and keeps code continuously deployable.

How does trunk-based CI relate to feature toggles?

Because unfinished work merges directly into the trunk, feature toggles are used to hide that work from users until it's ready, decoupling merging from releasing.

Is trunk-based CI the same as GitFlow?

No, they're largely opposite approaches — GitFlow relies on multiple long-lived branches (develop, release, feature), while trunk-based CI minimizes branching in favor of frequent direct commits to one trunk.

What is required to adopt trunk-based CI successfully?

A fast, reliable automated test suite, disciplined use of feature toggles, and a culture of small, frequently reviewed changes are typically necessary prerequisites.

Can trunk-based CI work with pull requests and code review?

Yes, teams commonly still use short-lived pull requests for code review, but merge them back into the trunk within hours rather than letting branches live for extended periods.

DevOps

Trunk-Based CI

IntermediateTechnique2.8K learners

Trunk-based CI is a source-control and continuous-integration practice in which developers integrate small, frequent changes directly into a single shared branch (the trunk) rather than working in long-lived feature branches.

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Definition

Overview

Trunk-based development stands in contrast to workflows built around long-lived feature branches, where developers work in isolation for days or weeks before merging, and merges become increasingly painful the longer a branch diverges from the trunk. In trunk-based CI, developers commit small, incremental changes directly to the trunk (commonly `main`) at least once a day, and every commit runs through an automated continuous integration pipeline of builds and tests before it's considered safe. Because work is integrated continuously rather than in large batches, trunk-based CI relies heavily on feature toggles to keep unfinished functionality hidden from end users while its code still merges into the trunk, and it favors short-lived branches — if branches are used at all — that live for hours rather than weeks. This approach is one of the foundational practices identified by the DevOps Research and Assessment (DORA) program as correlating with high-performing software delivery teams, since it minimizes merge conflicts, keeps the trunk always close to a releasable state, and enables true continuous integration and continuous deployment rather than integration only at the end of a release cycle. Adopting trunk-based CI usually requires supporting practices beyond just a branching policy: a fast and reliable automated test suite so that every commit can be validated quickly, feature toggles to decouple merging from releasing, and a culture of small, reviewable pull requests. Teams moving from GitFlow or long-lived feature branches to trunk-based CI often find the biggest adjustment is disciplined use of feature flags and a willingness to ship partially complete work behind a disabled toggle rather than holding it back in a branch.

Key Concepts

Developers commit small changes directly to a single shared trunk branch frequently
Short-lived or no feature branches, typically merged within hours rather than weeks
Every commit triggers an automated build and test pipeline before being considered safe
Heavy reliance on feature toggles to hide incomplete functionality from users
Identified by DORA research as a practice correlated with elite software delivery performance
Keeps the trunk continuously close to a releasable, deployable state
Reduces merge conflict risk compared to long-lived branch workflows

Use Cases

Enabling true continuous integration and continuous deployment pipelines

Reducing merge conflicts and integration pain on fast-moving teams

Supporting rapid, incremental delivery of small, reviewable changes

Combining with feature toggles to ship partially built features safely

Improving deployment frequency and lead time metrics tracked by DORA

Simplifying release management by keeping the trunk always deployable

Frequently Asked Questions

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