Is there workflow in git to share same file in multiple branch?

Question

I have a project targeted to multiple platform. I have to change UI codes for different platform while keeping core classes same. To achieve this, I thought to make git branches for different platform.

Given the above scenario my requirement is, if I make changes in core classes it should be reflected in all git branches.

How to achieve this?

Or is there any other workflow to achieve the same?

Answer 1

Via git rebase

You may handle your specific platform via git rebase instead of git merge. In this case you will be able to change core branch and than rebase other branches on it keeping platform specific modifications applied over core.

Example workflow.

Make platform branches

git checkout master
git checkout -b platform1

git checkout master
git checkout -b platform2

Make core modifications

git checkout master
# make modification
git commit

Make platform modifications

git checkout platform2
# make modification
git commit

Import core changes in platforms

git checkout platform1
git rebase master

git checkout platform2
git rebase master

Via git merge

It is also possible to use git merge with strategy option as said in git merge manual.

git checkout platform2
git merge -s recursive -X ours master

This will always choose platform specific changes in case of conflicts.