A Comprehensive Guide to Forking, Versioning, and Customizing Open-Source Projects: Bagisto as a Case Study

Introduction

Forking an open-source project like Bagisto allows you to customize and extend its functionality while keeping track of the latest updates from the original repository. GitHub versioning helps manage changes efficiently and collaborate seamlessly with the community. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of forking Bagisto, setting it up locally, and managing your fork efficiently for Sparrownova’s retail solutions.

Understanding Forking and GitHub Versioning

What is Forking?

Forking is the process of creating a copy of a repository under your GitHub account. This allows you to modify the project independently while still being able to pull in updates from the original source when needed. It is especially useful for open-source customization, collaborative development, and maintaining separate versions for different use cases.

Benefits of Forking

• Custom Development: Modify and extend functionalities without affecting the original project.
• Sync with Updates: Merge changes from the original repository while keeping your custom modifications.
• Collaboration: Work with teams on custom features while retaining the open-source foundation.

What is GitHub Versioning?

GitHub uses version control to track changes to a project over time. Each update is recorded as a commit, and branches allow for isolated development of features or bug fixes. A well-maintained repository follows a structured branching strategy to ensure stability and seamless updates.

Workflow Overview: From Fork to Deployment

Fork → Clone → Modify → Sync → Push → Deploy

Step 1: Fork Bagisto on GitHub

1. Go to the Bagisto GitHub repository.
2. Click the Fork button (top-right corner).
3. Select your GitHub account/organization (e.g., sparrownova).
4. This creates a new repository: https://github.com/sparrownova/sparrownova-bagisto.

Step 2: Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure you have the following installed:

• Git (for cloning and version control)
• Composer (for managing dependencies)
• PHP (>=8.0)
• Laravel (Latest Version)
• MySQL / MariaDB (for database management)

Step 3: Clone Your Forked Repository Locally

Where to Clone?

You should clone your forked repository into a directory where you manage your GitHub projects. In this example, we’ll use G:\IMP\GitHub\Sparrownova.

Steps to Clone:

1. Open PowerShell or Command Prompt.
2. Navigate to your desired GitHub directory:

   cd G:\IMP\GitHub\Sparrownova
   

3. Clone your forked repository from GitHub to your local system:

   git clone https://github.com/sparrownova/sparrownova-bagisto.git
   

4. Change into the project directory:

   cd sparrownova-bagisto
   

Step 4: Set Up Upstream for Syncing

To keep your fork updated with Bagisto:

1. Add Bagisto's original repo as upstream:

   git remote add upstream https://github.com/bagisto/bagisto.git
   

2. Verify remotes:

   git remote -v
   

   You should see:

   origin    https://github.com/sparrownova/sparrownova-bagisto.git (fetch)
   origin    https://github.com/sparrownova/sparrownova-bagisto.git (push)
   upstream  https://github.com/bagisto/bagisto.git (fetch)
   upstream  https://github.com/bagisto/bagisto.git (push)
   

Step 5: Install Bagisto Locally

1. Install dependencies:

   composer install
   

2. Set up the .env file:

   cp .env.example .env
   

3. Generate the application key:

   php artisan key:generate
   

4. Run migrations and seed the database:

   php artisan migrate --seed
   

5. Serve the application:

   php artisan serve
   

Step 6: Keeping Your Fork Updated

Periodically update your fork with Bagisto’s latest changes:

1. Fetch updates from the upstream repository:

   git fetch upstream
   

2. Merge upstream changes into your local branch:

   git rebase upstream/master
   

3. Push the updated changes to your forked repository:

   git push origin master
   

Step 7: Committing and Pushing Changes

When making changes to Sparrownova’s forked version of Bagisto:

1. Create a new feature branch:

   git checkout -b feature-branch
   

2. Make your changes.
3. Stage the changes:

   git add .
   

4. Commit the changes:

   git commit -m "Custom modifications for Sparrownova"
   

5. Push to your fork:

   git push origin feature-branch
   

🛠 Common Issues & Fixes

• Composer Timeout Issue: Run composer clear-cache and try again.
• Migration Errors: Ensure MySQL is running and .env has correct database credentials.
• Permission Errors: Run chmod -R 777 storage bootstrap/cache.

📦 Deploying Your Forked Version

• Use a separate branch for production (git checkout -b production).
• Set up a proper CI/CD pipeline for automated testing and deployment.
• Configure environment variables securely instead of hardcoding sensitive data.

🚀 Recommended Branching Strategy

• master: Keep it stable and production-ready.
• development: For active development and testing.
• Feature branches (feature-new-ui, feature-payment-gateway) for specific enhancements.

🧪 Testing Before Pushing Changes

Always test your changes locally:

1. Run php artisan test for automated testing.
2. Manually check UI & functionality before committing.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you have successfully forked, installed, and set up Bagisto for Sparrownova. Keeping your fork updated with the upstream repository ensures you have the latest features and security patches while maintaining your customizations. This structured approach allows for seamless development and scalability of your e-commerce solutions. 🚀

Why This Approach is Beneficial

Your idea of forking Bagisto for Sparrownova is a solid approach. It allows full control over customizations while still benefiting from the active development and improvements made by the Bagisto community. Using GitHub versioning and structured workflows ensures your platform remains robust, scalable, and maintainable. This guide not only helps you but can also serve as a reference for others looking to customize Bagisto effectively. 💡