How to Create Pull Requests in Github

May 28, 2022
code websites tutorials

I use Github fairly often, but rarely make pull requests. When I go to create a new one, I find I need a refresher on how to do it.

So I decided to create this short cheatsheet for myself. Perhaps you'll find it helpful as well.

What is a pull request?

A pull request is a technique for suggesting edits to someone's code base. Like the "review suggested edits" feature in Google Docs, a pull request provides the code repository owner with an easy way to review and incorporate your suggested edits.

Reasons for making pull requests

Some reasons for making pull requests include:

  • You're a newbie coder who wants to start contributing to existing projects
  • You noticed an error and would like to propose a fix
  • You'd like to solve an existing problem discussed in an Issues thread on the repository.
  • You'd like to propose an improvement: such as a more efficient way of executing a task.

How do you create a pull request?

  1. Fork the original repository. (A fork is a copy of someone else's code that you can edit.)
  2. In the forked copy, navigate to the page that you want to alter.

In the example above, I nagivated to the /layouts/partials/categories.html page. My goal is to correct a code typo: I want to remove the brackets highlighted in yellow.

  1. Click the edit button, edit the code, then save.
  2. Click on "Pull requests" near top left
  1. Now you'll see your code suggestion (highlighted in green) below the original code (highlighted in red). Check to make sure your code is correct. Then click the green "Pull request" button at upper right.

You'll have a space to briefly explain your proposed change.

The code repository owner will be notified. Once he or she reviews your code suggestion, and acts on it, you'll be notified.

In the case used in the example, the repository owner accepted the suggestion and merged the code.

Fun fact: if your code suggestion is accepted, you are now a contributor to their code project. Your contribution will be documented on their page and your profile photo will appear as a contributor.

Q&A

Have more questions? Drop me an email or peruse these QAs.

How do you fork a Github repository?

To fork a Github repository navigate to the repository page, then click the "fork" button at upper right. The forked copy will now appear in your account under "Your repositories."

I'm a newbie: how do I find ideas for pull requests?

On a repository page, go to the "Issues" tab, then click "Labels." Click on "good first issue" (described as "good for newcomers"). Try choosing an active repository of a popular, but simple theme, built with a static site generator you're familiar with, such as Hugo, Jekyll, or Eleventy. You're most likely to find pull request ideas in themes that you actively use.

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