Better Collaboration With Pull Requests

This article is part of our ongoing "Advanced Git" series. Stay updated by following us on Twitter or subscribing to our newsletter for notifications on future articles!

This installment focuses on pull requests – a powerful tool enhancing collaboration for development teams of all sizes. Pull requests streamline code review, feedback, tracking, and discussion, while serving as the ideal method for contributing to repositories where you lack write access.

Advanced Git Series:

1. Part 1: Mastering the Art of the Perfect Git Commit
2. Part 2: Effective Branching Strategies in Git
3. Part 3: Optimizing Collaboration with Pull Requests (You are here!)
4. Part 4: Resolving Merge Conflicts
5. Part 5: Rebase vs. Merge: A Comparative Analysis
6. Part 6: Leveraging Interactive Rebase
7. Part 7: Cherry-Picking Commits: A Targeted Approach
8. Part 8: Recovering Lost Commits with the Reflog

Understanding Pull Requests

Crucially, pull requests aren't a native Git feature. They're a functionality provided by your Git hosting platform (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps, etc.).

The Benefits of Pull Requests

Before detailing pull request creation, let's examine their value.

Imagine completing a new feature, perhaps within a feature branch, and needing to merge it into the main branch (master or main). While direct merging is acceptable for solo projects or experienced developers confident in their changes, more complex modifications often benefit from peer review. This is where pull requests shine.

(For a deeper understanding of branching workflows, refer to "Branching Strategies in Git," the second article in this series.)

Pull requests enable collaborative code review and feedback. Most platforms allow commenting and suggested changes. Once approved, the code can be merged.

Beyond review, pull requests are essential for contributing to external repositories without write access. Open-source projects, for example, rely heavily on pull requests for contributions.

This leads us to a related concept: forks.

Working with Forks

A fork is a personal copy of a repository. In open-source contributions, forking allows you to make changes in your copy before submitting a pull request to the original repository's maintainers for inclusion.

Important Note: Pull requests operate on branches, not individual commits. Each pull request is associated with a specific branch.

Creating Effective Pull Requests

While platform-specific interfaces vary (GitHub, GitLab, etc.), the core workflow remains consistent. Tools like the Tower Git client offer a unified experience across platforms.

The general process involves:

1. Fork the repository (if you lack write access).
2. Create a new local branch in your forked repository. (Remember: pull requests are branch-based.)
3. Make and commit changes in your local branch.
4. Push the changes to your remote forked repository.
5. Create a pull request, initiating the review process.

For efficient review, keep pull requests concise. Smaller, focused changes are easier to assess than large, sprawling ones. Use clear, descriptive titles and explanations detailing the changes, their purpose, and impact. Screenshots can further enhance understanding.

Review Outcomes: Approve, Merge, or Decline

After review, approved changes are merged (by someone with write access). If revisions are needed, additional commits can update the existing pull request. Alternatively, the pull request can be declined.

Enhancing Code Quality and Collaboration

Pull requests foster communication and collaboration, ensuring higher code quality. By incorporating peer review, you improve the reliability and maintainability of your codebase.

For a more comprehensive exploration of advanced Git techniques, explore my free "Advanced Git Kit," featuring videos on branching, interactive rebase, reflog, submodules, and more.

Advanced Git Series:

1. Part 1: Mastering the Art of the Perfect Git Commit
2. Part 2: Effective Branching Strategies in Git
3. Part 3: Optimizing Collaboration with Pull Requests (You are here!)
4. Part 4: Resolving Merge Conflicts
5. Part 5: Rebase vs. Merge: A Comparative Analysis
6. Part 6: Leveraging Interactive Rebase
7. Part 7: Cherry-Picking Commits: A Targeted Approach
8. Part 8: Recovering Lost Commits with the Reflog

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