How I Use Git and GitHub as a Solo Developer to Ship Fast and Clean

Git isn’t just a team tool. Here’s how I use branches, PRs, and GitHub workflows to move quickly and stay organized as a solo dev.

Working solo doesn’t mean skipping version control discipline. I treat every repo like a team project: feature branches, atomic PRs, clear commit messages, and automated CI test pipelines. GitHub Actions power deployments, code linting, and build validation so I avoid shipping half-baked code—even as a one-person team. My workflow: every feature or fix lives in its branch. PR titles follow a strict convention (feat/, fix/, chore/), and includes context plus testing instructions. I require at least one passing status check before merging. GitHub issues drive planning, backlog grooming, and threadable execution. Automated CI workflows catch errors early. I run lint, type-check, test suites, and even deploy preview environments for visual review—all linked to PRs. This gives me confidence to iterate fast without regression or disorder. This discipline scales. When you ship like a team—even if you’re only one person—the codebase remains maintainable, contributors can onboard easily, and your public portfolio demonstrates professionalism and rigour.