Creating branch inside a branch

[Shantharam]

Hello, I have a situation where I need to maintain files that are highly categorized. Basically I am using BitBucket to store Test scripts related to multiple modules, this how it looks on a high level:

1. A Git Project with my team name
2. Many repositories for each Projects of my Organization
3. Many branches inside each repository for different modules of a project

Now my issue comes where I need to further categorize many test scripts that I would like to maintain under these branches:

Suppose I have 5 different functionalities and I have written 5 test scripts. Each of the functionality is independent of each other, but comes under the same module. Therefore I will somehow have to keep the test scripts under the same repository, but still need to have a kind of separation. Because I do not want to pull all the remaining 9 test scripts if I wanted to modify one of them (This occurs if I keep all 10 test scripts under the same module branch).

Therefore I would like to create branches inside a branch to avoid checking out all other scripts. But when I did create a branch inside a branch, in BitBucket UI if I navigate to the base branch and list all the branches, even the sub-branches are listed, this will lead to a lot of confusion :( 

Here is a pictorial representation of my issue:

1. Banner9 is my repository
2. StudentSelfService and FacultySeslfService are my base branches under the repository
3. Acceleration-Student-March-2020 is the new branch that I created INSIDE StudentSelfService branch, but it is showing up in the top hierarchy.

Is there anyway I could make the sub-branch (Acceleration-Student-March-2020) not come up if I list the branches being in the repository? Or is there any better way to have a further 'separation' between objects stored under the same branch?

[Tyler T · Accepted solution]

Hello @Shantharam , welcome to the Community!

Git doesn't really have a concept of sub-branches.

You could look at git tags as a way to further organize your work: https://www.atlassian.com/git/tutorials/inspecting-a-repository/git-tag

Right now, all of your branches will show up in that dropdown if they have been pushed up to Bitbucket.

[Nitish]

Hi @Shantharam 

Yes, It is possible to create a sub-branch in bitbucket. Even you can create branch to n level.

Let's say you have a master branch in any repository. Now you can create a child branch from  existing master branch.

Here are the steps - 

• Open your repository
• Go to Branches
• Click on Create branch  button on the top right corner of the page

Now you will see the following window:

From branch: Choose the branch from which you want to create your new branch

Branch name: Enter the name of your new branch.

and click on the create button.

Now you have 2 branches in your repository.

Again repeat the same steps and this time choose your child branch in From branch and enter a new branch name. And you will get a sub-branch.

You can create sub-branches to any level. You can also create a branch from any commit, tag, etc.

Hope it will help.

Kindly accept this answer if this works for you.

[Nitish]

Hi @Shantharam ,

Yes, you can create sub-branches to any branch.

 Lets say you have a master branch then from the master branch you can create a sub-branch.

You can further create sub-branches from this child branch.

Here are the steps:

First, go to your repository then choose Branches. On the top right corner, there will be a button with a name Create branch. Click on this button.

Now choose your child branch as from branch and enter the name of your new branch.

Finally you will have following hierarchy:

Master

          -> ChildBranch

                 -> GrandChildBranch and so on.

You can create any new branch from any existing branch, tag, commit, etc.

Hope it will help.

Kindly accept this answer if it resolves your query.