What is the best way to handle code integration conflicts?

1 Use a version control system

A version control system (VCS) is a tool that tracks and manages the changes made to the code by different developers. It allows you to create branches, which are separate copies of the code that you can work on independently, and merge them back to the main branch when you are done. A VCS also helps you to compare, review, and revert changes, as well as to identify and resolve conflicts. Some popular VCS tools are Git, Subversion, and Mercurial.

2 Follow a consistent coding style

A coding style is a set of rules and conventions that define how the code should be formatted, organized, and documented. Following a consistent coding style across the team can help to reduce the chances of integration conflicts, as well as to improve the readability, maintainability, and quality of the code. You can use tools like Prettier, ESLint, or StyleCop to enforce and automate the coding style.

3 Communicate and coordinate with your team

Communication and coordination are essential for avoiding and resolving integration conflicts. You should communicate with your team members about the scope, status, and dependencies of your tasks, as well as any issues or changes that may affect the codebase. You should also coordinate with your team on when and how to merge your changes, and follow a common workflow or process. For example, you can use pull requests, code reviews, or pair programming to ensure that your code is checked and approved before merging.