Final answer:
Salesforce metadata is predominantly XML-based, and manual alterations can risk an invalid deployment. It's important to handle commits and metadata changes carefully to ensure integrity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you've asked pertains to Salesforce metadata. Salesforce metadata is mostly XML-based. Allowing your users to manually resolve conflicts runs the risk of producing an invalid deployment. If a user manually modifies the XML and makes an error, such as misplaced tags, this can result in a failed deployment due to the invalid structure of the metadata files. It's essential to have a clear understanding of the XML structure and to use tools designed to help prevent these kinds of issues. In Salesforce development, a commit refers to the process of submitting changes to a source control repository, which should be done with care to maintain the integrity of the metadata and the repository.