Transcript

Version Control: a system that allows you to divide your app into independent versions so your team can build simultaneously without disrupting each other's work.

Bubble's new version control system is built to have your back as your app grows and scales. The system is anchored in a framework of branching and merging, similar to git, a common and proven practice in software development. Basic version control features are available on any Bubble app subscribed to a paid plan, with the full suite of premium

capabilities unlocked on higher-tier plans.

At its core, Bubble's version control system revolves around the relationship between two primary branches: Main and Live. All apps come with a Main branch upon app creation. This is the primary development version of your app. Once an app is upgraded to a paid plan, you unlock the ability to deploy your app from Main to Live. Live is the public version of your app that your users will interact with.

Note that your Live branch is read-only for you and your collaborators. You can't make changes to the app in this branch. Your users won't see what you're experimenting with until you deploy your changes from Main to Live.

When you interact with a branch of your app, that branch may exist in one of two environments. Bubble distinguishes between these two environments by which database that branch of your app utilizes. For example, your Live branch exists in the Live environment; the version of your app here utilizes Live data created by the users interacting with your Live database. Your Main branch, and any other custom branches you create, exist in the Development environment; any version of your app here utilizes the Development database, which is where you can create and modify test data for you and your team to experiment with.

In basic version control, Main is the sole branch in your Dev environment. You make all of the changes to your app, create savepoints, and deploy to Live all from the Main branch. Premium version control evolves the relationship between Main and Live. With premium, you unlock a variety of advanced branching capabilities within your Dev environment that can empower you with new ways to organize and tackle your project.

For example, with premium comes the ability to create custom branches off of Main, to create a special Hotfix Branch off of Live, and to merge and sync your custom branches as needed.

This video offered a high level overview of how both basic and premium version control work. If you'd like to learn more about any of the specific features mentioned in this video, check out our subsequent version control tutorials, or check the Bubble Manual. Don't forget to check which app plan may best fit your team's needs!