Git: how to maintain permanent parallel branches

Question

We have project (PHP application), but instalation for each client vary, sometimes very little, sometimes more. Still, big part of source code is common. We manage specific inst

Answer 1

It really depends on what you want to do with the branch. Yes, if you rebase local, it'll create non-fast-forward pushes after rebasing. On the other hand, you'll be maintaining a set of distinct changes going forward and what's on your branch will be a set of changes AS IF THEY HAD BEEN MADE TO THE NEWEST HEAD OF MASTER.

Merging the master to local, instead, will keep local marching forward in time with master, and will record the history as it happened. If you need to be able to reconstruct the state of local in the past, then you'll want to do this. The history will never change. But, you'll have a more complicated history to deal with.