Version Control for GTA 6 Server Mods
Every serious GTA server eventually runs its own custom scripts. If those scripts are not in version control, you are one accidental overwrite away from losing a weekend of work. Here is the minimum git workflow that protects you.
Why version control matters
- Rollback. Bad deploy? Back to the previous commit in 10 seconds.
- History. You can see who changed what, when, and why.
- Collaboration. Multiple developers can work on the same codebase without stepping on each other.
- Review. Pull requests catch bugs before they hit production.
- Backup. Your mods are not lost when the server dies.
The minimum setup
- Create a private GitHub or GitLab repository for your server.
- Add the resources folder (or equivalent) from your server.
- Write a .gitignore that excludes secrets: database credentials, API keys, .env files.
- Commit everything. Push to the remote.
- On your servers (production and staging), clone the repo and deploy via git pull.
Branching strategy
For small teams the simplest workflow works best:
- main: production-ready code.
- staging: tested on staging server, not yet in production.
- feature/[name]: developer branches for new work.
Flow: feature branch -> PR into staging -> test -> merge to main -> deploy to production.
Secrets must not go in git
Repeat this one. Never commit:
- Database credentials.
- API keys (Discord, Steam, payment processors).
- JWT secrets.
- Private server IPs that you do not want leaked.
Use environment variables or a separate .env file that git ignores. For public repos, never commit anything server-specific.
Deployment patterns
- Git pull. Simple. Works. Fine for small servers.
- CI/CD. Push to main, GitHub Action SSHes in and pulls + restarts. Better for bigger teams.
- Blue-green. Run two copies, deploy to one, flip traffic. Overkill for most GTA servers.
Common mistakes
- Committing secrets. This happens weekly somewhere in the FiveM community. Rotate any leaked credentials immediately.
- Editing production directly. You lose history and create drift between production and git.
- Force-pushing to main. Destroys history. Do not do this.
- Working out of a single shared branch. Conflicts everywhere, no review.
Related reading
For the deployment workflow, see our staging environment guide. For the content pipeline, read server customization. For script quality at scale, the CPU bottleneck guide covers what to avoid in scripts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need git for my GTA 6 server scripts?
Yes for any server with more than one developer, or if you run custom scripts at all. Git gives you rollback, history, and backup. Running without it is a weekend away from disaster.
Should my server repository be public or private?
Private, almost always. Even if you open-source individual scripts, your server-specific config, database schema, and custom content usually should not be public.
What should not go in my GTA 6 server git repo?
Database passwords, API keys, Discord bot tokens, JWT secrets. Use environment variables and keep a .env.example template in git instead of the real values.
