Branches

In Abstract, new work starts by creating a Branch. You can think of a Branch as your working copy of the Master—what we call the files that act as the source of truth for a Project’s finalized designs. A Branch is where you can privately explore and edit designs in a Project before sharing them with your team by committing.

How to create a Branch

You can create a Branch from the Master file or from another Branch. When you create a Branch from another Branch, we call the original Branch the “parent branch” and the new Branch the “child Branch”. You may choose to branch from a parent Branch if you’d like to pick up where someone else left off in their Branch.

💡Abstract tip: Creating a Branch does not affect the Master. You’ll commit your changes and go through a review process before you merge any changes to Master.

How to create a Branch from Master

To create a Branch from Master:

1. Open the Abstract desktop app.
2. Select the Project you’d like to edit.
3. Select Master from the left side pane.
4. Select the .SKETCH file you’d like to edit.
5. Select EDIT IN SKETCH in the top right.
6. Select CREATE A BRANCH.
7. Enter a Branch name that describes the edits you’re planning to make in that Branch (e.g. Green version of iOS logo).
   • Note: If your Branch focus changes, you can edit the Branch name.
8. Select CREATE BRANCH.

Your new Branch will open in Sketch. You can make edits right away.

How to create a Branch from another Branch

To create a child Branch from a parent Branch:

1. Open the Abstract desktop app.
2. Select the Project you’d like to edit.
3. Select Branches from the left side pane.
4. Select the Branch you’d like to branch from.
5. Click NEW BRANCH in the top right corner.
6. Enter a Branch name that describes the edits you’re planning to make in that Branch (e.g. Green version of iOS logo).
   • Note: If your Branch focus changes, you can edit the Branch name.
7. Select CREATE BRANCH.

Your new Branch will open in Sketch. You can make edits right away.