Twelve-Factor App | One Codebase, Many Deploys

The first factor of the Twelve-Factor App methodology emphasizes the importance of having one codebase tracked in revision control, with many deploys. 

Why One Codebase?

Having a single codebase means that there is one repository that holds the shared code for an application. This code can be deployed across different environments like development, staging, and production.

Benefits:
  • Consistency: Ensures uniformity across different stages of deployment.
  • Collaboration: Makes collaboration among team members easier.
  • Traceability: Simplifies tracking changes and auditing.

How to Manage One Codebase

Use Version Control Systems (VCS)

Tools like Git provide a robust platform for managing a single codebase.

Example:

git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"
Branching Strategies

Branching strategies like Git Flow or GitHub Flow can be used to manage different development stages.

Example:

git checkout -b feature/new-feature

Deployment Strategies

With one codebase, it's possible to deploy the same code to various environments with different configurations.

Example:
  • Development Environment: Deploy with a set of development configurations.
  • Staging Environment: Test with configurations that mirror the production environment.
  • Production Environment: Deploy with production-ready configurations.

The concept of one codebase aligns perfectly with the DevOps culture, promoting collaboration, consistency, and efficiency.