How to Make Your First Pull Request

Fardeen Mansoori

Jan 16, 2025

3 min read

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Making your first pull request can feel a little intimidating, but it’s actually quite straightforward once you get the hang of it. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Step 1: Fork the Repository

The first step is to create your own copy of the repository you want to contribute to. This is called "forking."

  1. Go to the GitHub page of the repository e.g. code100x/cms.

  2. Click the Fork button in the top-right corner.

Now you have your own version of the repository under your GitHub account.

Step 2: Clone the Repository

Next, you need to download your forked repository to your local machine so you can work on it.

Run the following command in your terminal:

git clone https://github.com/<your-username>/<repository-name>.git

Replace <your-username> with your GitHub username and <repository-name> with the name of the repository you forked.

Step 3: Create a New Branch

Before making changes, it’s best practice to create a new branch. This keeps your main branch clean and organized.

Run this command:

git checkout -b <branch-name>

Replace <branch-name> with a meaningful name related to the changes you plan to make, like fix-typo or add-new-feature.

Step 4: Set Up the Project Locally

Follow any instructions in the repository's README.md or CONTRIBUTING.md file to set up the project on your local environment. This might include installing dependencies or configuring certain files.

For example, if it’s a Node.js, React or Next.js project, you might need to run (if using npm as package manager):

npm install

Step 5: Make Your Changes

Now you’re ready to make your changes. Open the project in your favorite code editor (btw I use cursor) and start working on it.

Once you’re done:

  1. Stage your changes:

    git add .

  2. Commit your changes with a descriptive message:

    git commit -m "fix: NASA codebase"

Step 6: Push Your Changes

Push your changes to the new branch you created earlier:

git push origin <branch-name>

Replace <branch-name> with the name of your branch.

Step 7: Open a Pull Request

Now it’s time to submit your changes for review.

  1. Go to your forked repository on GitHub.

  2. Click the Pull Request button.

  3. Select the branch you just pushed from your forked repository.

  4. Choose the branch you want to merge into on the original repository.

  5. Add a clear and descriptive title and description for your pull request. Mention what changes you made and why.

For example:

Title: Fix Typo in README

Description: This pull request fixes a typo in the README file. The word "anonymous" was corrected to "anons"

Step 8: Submit Your Pull Request

Once you’ve filled out the title and description, click Create Pull Request.

Congratulations! 🎉 You’ve just made your first pull request. Now, the repository maintainers will review your changes. If they have any feedback, they might ask you to make some updates before merging your pull request.

Final Tips

  • Be patient and polite when waiting for feedback.

  • Follow the repository's contribution guidelines if they have any.

  • Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you’re unsure about something.

Making your first pull request is an important milestone. Good luck, and happy coding!