{"id":31146,"date":"2012-05-02T18:25:09","date_gmt":"2012-05-03T01:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/github.blog\/\/2012-05-02-how-we-use-pull-requests-to-build-github\/"},"modified":"2022-12-19T14:26:04","modified_gmt":"2022-12-19T22:26:04","slug":"how-we-use-pull-requests-to-build-github","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/github.blog\/news-insights\/the-library\/how-we-use-pull-requests-to-build-github\/","title":{"rendered":"How we use Pull Requests to build GitHub"},"content":{"rendered":"

We recently shipped a new About section. It has all sorts of stuff like
\nhigh resolution logos, pictures of the GitHub team, a little bit about our story, recent press mentions and maybe most importantly positions
\nwe’re hiring for<\/a>. It’s awesome.<\/p>\n

But that’s not the point of this post. Instead, let’s take
\na look at how we used a massive Pull Request to ship this feature.<\/p>\n

We talk a lot about how GitHub works in blog
\nposts<\/a> and
\ntalks<\/a> and this is a great
\nexample of how we use Pull Requests.<\/p>\n

Here is what the PR<\/abbr> looked like for the new
\nAbout page:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

You’re looking at 130 commits and 91 comments from 10 different people over a two
\nmonth timespan. The discussion ranged from the original idea and HTML mock-up, to
\nSkitch mock ups from developers, to content strategy. There are designs posted
\nfor review at various points. And of course, every commit to the branch is
\ntracked and ready for code review.<\/p>\n

If you’ve ever talked to a GitHubber you’ll know we think Pull Requests are the
\ngreatest thing ever. And not just because we invented them.<\/p>\n

They are a great way to generate discussion around new ideas and recruit people to help out. Because we don’t have major organizational decisions, Pull Requests let people see what’s being worked on and they hop in where they think they’ll add the most value. It works a lot like an Open Source project.<\/p>\n

Some tricks to make Pull Requests more awesome for your project:<\/p>\n