Why Small Pull Requests?

Exploring Their Strategic Value in Software Development

Patrick Karsh
3 min readApr 27, 2024

In the fast-paced world of software development, efficiency and quality are paramount. One practice that significantly enhances both is the use of small pull requests (PRs). This approach, often embraced in agile development frameworks, involves breaking down changes into manageable, easily reviewable pieces. Here, we explore the myriad benefits of adopting small PRs in your development process.

Building big with small PRs

Enhanced Code Review Efficiency

Small PRs shine brightest in the realm of code reviews. When changes are minimal, the process of reviewing these changes becomes more focused and less time-consuming. This not only accelerates the review process but also improves the scrutiny and feedback quality, significantly reducing the likelihood of bugs and errors. Such thoroughness ensures a higher standard of code quality, which is crucial for maintaining robust and reliable software.

Accelerated Integration Process

With smaller, incremental updates, integration becomes less cumbersome. This practice allows for regular, conflict-free merges into the main branch, promoting a smoother and more continuous integration cycle. It reduces the potential for significant integration issues, which…

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Patrick Karsh

NYC-based Ruby on Rails and Javascript Engineer leveraging AI to explore Engineering. https://linktr.ee/patrickkarsh