When is it appropriate to use the 'Merge with fast-forward' mode in Foundry's Code Repositories?

The 'Merge with fast-forward' mode is utilized in scenarios where there are no additional changes on the target branch, which is why this choice is correct. This mode allows for a straightforward merging process, where the source branch can be applied directly to the target branch without creating a separate merge commit. When using fast-forward, the commit history remains linear, which simplifies the commit tree and makes it easier to understand the flow of changes.

This approach is particularly suitable in a situation where the target branch has not moved ahead of the source branch since the last common commit, meaning no additional development work has taken place on the target branch. As a result, it preserves a clean history of commits while efficiently consolidating changes.

In contrast, when the target branch has diverged significantly from the source branch, a fast-forward merge would not be appropriate because it requires merging the two diverged histories, which cannot be accomplished without a merge commit. Similarly, if the intent is to maintain a detailed commit history that includes all integration points between branches, a regular merge commit would be necessary as opposed to a fast-forward merge. Lastly, creating a new commit that combines all changes is more aligned with the behavior of a merge commit rather than a fast-forward merge.