Trunk-based development isn't just pushing straight to main; it works with short-lived branches, code reviews, and staging, debunking common myths that block teams from adopting it.
The article cuts straight to the core mistake many engineers make: treating trunk-based development as a synonym for pushing every change directly to the main branch. It argues that the real practice is about keeping branches short, merging frequently, and letting the main line stay stable.
It walks through three common myths. First, the belief that you must commit straight to main, which the author disproves by showing how short-lived feature branches and pull requests can coexist with trunk-based workflows. Second, the idea that a single production environment is required; the piece shows that a staging environment can sit on the main branch and serve as a safety net. Third, the fear that code reviews become impossible, countered by emphasizing small, coherent changes that are easy to review.
For technical leaders the takeaway is practical: adopt a "scaled trunk-based" approach with branches that live only a few days, enforce clear PR descriptions, and keep a staging pipeline that mirrors production. This eliminates the bottlenecks of long-lived branches, reduces technical debt, and lets teams scale without sacrificing code quality.
Check out the full stdlib collection for more frameworks, templates, and guides to accelerate your technical leadership journey.