Hey everyone! We're a team of around 10 developers working mainly with .NET, focusing on different APIs—about 100 in total, but we typically handle around 15 per sprint. We're looking to enhance our pull request (PR) process, especially for the larger ones. The main issue is that when a PR is too big, it tends to slow down the approval process because people find it difficult to pause their work to review a PR that includes changes across 50 files. I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations for blogs, articles, or books that could help us tackle this issue. Thanks in advance for your help!
4 Answers
One suggestion is to break down those big PRs into smaller ones right from the start. I know it's often tough to hear that, especially if you're used to submitting large PRs, but it can honestly speed things up. Pair programming can also be a great option if you have the time for it, as it allows for real-time review. Even if you do have multiple smaller PRs, make sure they're tied to the same ticket to keep everything organized. It can feel like a headache at first, but once you get into the rhythm of it, things will flow much smoother!
Absolutely! It’s all about encouraging a culture where everyone has a say in PR reviews. Regularly asking if a big change truly needs to be 50+ files can help foster better habits. And don’t forget to lead by example with your own PRs—show your teammates how to approach this right!
I’d recommend always trying to split larger pull requests into smaller, manageable pieces. This way, reviewers won’t feel overwhelmed. Don’t rush to delete your feature branches right after merging either; it helps keep everything accessible. Also, make sure to rebase onto the latest integration branch before submitting a PR. It helps in keeping changes clean and easy to review. Assign multiple reviewers and provide clear documentation of what the changes entail—this makes the review process far more efficient.
Honestly, having one person as the designated PR reviewer—like a senior architect—can help maintain consistency in the process. But, there’s a downside: you risk putting all your knowledge in one basket. What if that reviewer is out for a while? Everyone should share in the review process to cultivate a richer understanding across the team. Educate everyone on how to make more digestible PRs by default!
Great points! And setting a target date can keep everyone accountable. Regular follow-ups can also help ensure PRs are actually being reviewed instead of getting lost in the shuffle.