How to split a pull request into multiple PRs

In collaborative software projects, large pull requests can be a bottleneck to the review process. Graphite's suite of tools offers a streamlined approach to divide a single large PR into multiple smaller PRs, facilitating faster reviews and improved code quality. This guide will walk you through the process of splitting a PR using Graphite's split and submit commands.

Why split a pull request?

Callout: Smaller PRs tend to be reviewed more quickly and with greater attention to detail, leading to a more robust codebase.

• Review Efficiency: Shorter PRs are easier and quicker for reviewers to understand.

• Focused Discussions: Discussions can remain focused on specific changes rather than sprawling across multiple contexts.

• Faster Integration: Smaller PRs can be merged faster, reducing the risk of merge conflicts.

Preparing to split your PR

Before you begin splitting your PR, ensure that you have a clear understanding of how your changes can be logically grouped into separate, self-contained updates.

Using gt split to divide changes

Graphite's gt split command allows you to create new branches for each group of changes that you want to turn into individual PRs.

Steps to split using gt split:

1. Identify Changes: Look at the changes in your current PR and decide how you want to group them.

2. Run the Split Command: Execute gt split to start the interactive process.

3. Create New Branches: Graphite will guide you through creating new branches for each set of changes.

Example command:

gt split

Submitting your changes with gt submit

Once you've split your changes into separate branches, you can use the gt submit command to open new PRs for each branch.

Steps to submit multiple PRs:

1. Review Stacks: Use gt stack to review the branches you’ve created.

2. Submit the Stacks: Execute gt submit to open a PR for each branch in your stack.

3. Link PRs: Reference each new PR in the original PR to maintain context.

Example command:

gt submit

Callout: With gt submit, you can efficiently open multiple PRs simultaneously, a powerful feature for handling complex features or refactorings that span across different parts of the codebase.

Conclusion

Splitting a large PR into multiple smaller ones can significantly enhance the review process. By leveraging Graphite's split and submit commands, developers can easily manage their PRs, resulting in a more efficient and effective development workflow. Adopt these practices to ensure your changes are integrated swiftly and without overwhelming your team.

For a deep dive into each command and more advanced usage, visit Graphite's official documentation.