Pull request description templates

Pull request (PR) description templates are helpful tools for standardizing the submission process in software development projects, especially when using platforms like GitHub. These templates guide contributors to include all necessary details when submitting a pull request, ensuring that reviews are efficient and thorough. Implementing PR templates can significantly improve your project's organization and speed up the code review process.

Why use PR description templates?

Pull request templates help maintain consistency in PR descriptions across your project, making it easier for team members to understand and review changes. By specifying the type of information required, PR templates reduce the time spent on back-and-forth communication and improve the quality of submissions.

Creating pull request templates in GitHub

1. Access your repository's settings: Navigate to your GitHub repository, and click on "Settings."
2. Navigate to the PR templates section: In the repository settings, find the section named "Pull requests" and look for the "PR template" feature.
3. Create a template file: You can create a .github/pull_request_template.md file in your repository. This Markdown file will serve as the base template for your PR descriptions.

Here's an example of a basic GitHub PR template:

## Description

<Provide a brief description of what this PR does.>

## Changes

<List the changes made in this PR.>
- Change 1
- Change 2

## Testing

<Describe how these changes were tested.>

## Additional Information

<Any additional information or context required.>

Customizing your PR templates

To meet specific needs, you might want to customize your pull request templates. For example, you could have different templates for bug fixes, feature additions, and documentation updates. This customization can be achieved by creating multiple template files within the .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/ directory and naming them appropriately, such as bug_fix_template.md, feature_template.md, and docs_template.md.

Implementing PR templates in GitHub

To implement these templates in your GitHub repository:

1. Store the template files: Place your customized template files in the .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/ directory of your repository.
2. Configure the repository to use templates: Make sure that your repository settings are configured to recognize these templates. This setting is usually enabled by default when the template files are detected.

Utilizing GitHub pull request template features

GitHub offers several features that enhance the functionality of PR templates:

• Auto-fill capabilities: Templates can automatically fill in labels, assignees, or milestones based on the branch or contents of the PR.
• Template selection: When creating a PR, contributors can select the appropriate template from a dropdown menu, simplifying the process of choosing the correct format for their submission.

Maintaining consistency in PR descriptions with Graphite's PR inbox

Here's how Graphite's PR inbox can help maintain consistency and organization with your PR descriptions:

• Organizational structure: Graphite’s PR inbox acts like an email client for PRs, categorizing them into sections like "Needs your review" or "Waiting for review" to streamline management.
• Customizable sections: You can customize or create new sections with specific filters and settings, ensuring PRs meet your project’s standards.
• Integration with GitHub: While Graphite doesn't create PR templates, it works with GitHub, supporting the use of standardized PR templates.
• Sharing features: Share PR inbox configurations with teammates to ensure everyone manages PRs consistently.
• Enhanced search capabilities: Fuzzy search across PR titles, descriptions, and more helps efficiently manage PRs.

By adopting PR description templates and leveraging tools like Graphite, teams can standardize their development workflows, reduce errors, and improve collaboration.