How to create a pull request in GitHub?

 

Step 1: Fork the Repository

 

Navigate to the original GitHub repository you want to contribute to.

• In the top-right corner of the repo page, click Fork.
• Select your GitHub account or organization as the fork destination.
• Wait for the forking process to complete; you’ll now have a copy under your account.

 

Step 2: Clone Your Fork Locally

 

Copy the URL of your fork and run the following commands in your terminal to download it:

git clone https://github.com/your-username/repo-name.git
cd repo-name

 

Step 3: Create a New Branch

 

Always work in a feature branch to keep changes organized:

• Use a descriptive branch name that reflects the work you’re doing (e.g., feature/add-login or bugfix/fix-typo).

Run:

git checkout -b feature/your-branch-name

 

Step 4: Make Changes and Commit

 

Edit files as needed in your code editor. When ready to save your work:

• Stage the files you’ve changed:

git add path/to/file1 path/to/file2

• Commit with a clear message:

git commit -m "Short description of changes"

 

Step 5: Push Your Branch to GitHub

 

Send your local branch up to your remote fork:

git push origin feature/your-branch-name

 

Step 6: Open a Pull Request

 

On GitHub:

• Navigate to your forked repository.
• Switch to your newly pushed branch.
• Click the Compare & pull request button.
• Fill in the title and description, explaining what your changes do and why.
• Choose the original repository’s branch (usually main or master) as the base.
• Click Create pull request.

 

Step 7: Review, Address Feedback, and Merge

 

• Wait for maintainers to review your PR.
• Make additional commits to your branch to address feedback; they’ll auto-appear in the PR.
• Once approved and CI checks pass, click Merge pull request.
• Optionally, delete your feature branch both locally and on GitHub:

git branch -d feature/your-branch-name
git push origin --delete feature/your-branch-name