Create Issue & Pull Request Templates: A Simple Guide

Hey guys! Ever feel like you're chasing your tail trying to gather all the necessary info for a bug report or feature request? Or maybe you're reviewing a pull request and find yourself constantly asking for more details? Well, you're not alone! That's why creating standardized templates for issues and pull requests is a game-changer for any team. These templates ensure you get all the crucial information upfront, leading to clearer communication, faster reviews, and ultimately, a smoother development process. Let's dive into how you can set up these templates and supercharge your workflow.

The Goal: Why Templates Matter

Our primary goal here is to establish standardized templates for new issues and pull requests. This is really important because it ensures that everyone provides the necessary information right from the start. Think of it as a pre-flight checklist for your code contributions! By implementing templates, we aim to:

• Get All the Information: Ensure creators provide all the necessary details.
• Unify Communication: Standardize how information is presented within the team.
• Speed Up Reviews: Facilitate quicker reviews and bug fixes by having all the relevant context readily available.

The Problem: The Empty Text Field

Currently, when someone creates a new issue or pull request, they're greeted with a blank text field. This often results in incomplete descriptions, missing crucial details (like steps to reproduce a bug), and a whole lot of back-and-forth. It's like trying to assemble a puzzle with half the pieces missing! Templates solve this problem by providing a structured format that guides users on what information to include. It's about making things easier for everyone involved.

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Your Templates

Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create templates for bug reports, feature requests, and pull requests. Don't worry, it's easier than it sounds!

Step 1: Crafting a Bug Report Template

Bug reports are crucial for identifying and fixing issues. A well-structured bug report saves time and helps developers understand the problem quickly. Here’s how to create a template for them:

1. Create the File: Inside your repository, navigate to the .github/ directory. If you don't have these directories, you'll need to create them. Inside .github/, create a directory named ISSUE_TEMPLATE/. Finally, create a file named bug_report.md within the ISSUE_TEMPLATE/ directory. This .md extension means it’s a Markdown file, which allows for formatted text.

2. Paste the Content: Copy and paste the following content into your bug_report.md file:

   ---
   name: Bug Report
   about: Create a report to help us improve
   title: "[BUG] "
   labels: bug
   assignees: ''
   ---
   
   **Describe the bug**
   A clear and concise description of what the bug is.
   
   **To Reproduce**
   Steps to reproduce the behavior:
   1. Go to '...'
   2. Run command '....'
   3. See error
   
   **Expected behavior**
   A clear and concise description of what you expected to happen.
   
   **Screenshots or Logs**
   If applicable, add screenshots or log outputs to help explain your problem.
   
   **Environment (please complete the following information):**
    - OS: [e.g. Ubuntu 22.04]
    - Compiler version: [e.g. gcc 11.2.0]
    - `make` version:
    - `yasm` version:
   

   Let’s break down what each section does:

   • name: Specifies the name of the template.
   • about: Provides a brief description of the template's purpose.
   • title: Sets a prefix for the issue title (e.g., [BUG]).
   • labels: Automatically applies the bug label to the issue.
   • assignees: You can pre-assign the issue, but it's best to leave this blank so it can be assigned during triage.
   • The rest of the template consists of Markdown headings and prompts that guide the user to provide essential information such as a description of the bug, steps to reproduce it, the expected behavior, and the environment in which the bug occurred. Including environment details like OS and compiler version is super helpful for debugging.

Step 2: Setting Up a Feature Request Template

Feature requests are the lifeblood of any evolving project. Having a template ensures that you capture the user's intent and understand the problem the feature is meant to solve. Here's how to create one:

1. Create the File: In the same .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/ directory, create a new file named feature_request.md.

2. Paste the Content: Copy and paste the following Markdown into your feature_request.md file:

   ---
   name: Feature Request
   about: Suggest an idea for this project
   title: "[FEAT] "
   labels: enhancement
   assignees: ''
   ---
   
   **Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.**
   A clear and concise description of what the problem is. Ex. "I'm always frustrated when..."
   
   **Describe the solution you'd like**
   A clear and concise description of what you want to happen.
   
   **Describe alternatives you've considered**
   A clear and concise description of any alternative solutions or features you've considered.
   

   Again, let's break this down:

   • name, about, title, labels, and assignees serve similar purposes as in the bug report template.
   • The body of the template prompts the user to describe the problem the feature request is addressing, the solution they envision, and any alternative solutions they've considered. This helps the team understand the user's needs and explore different approaches.

Step 3: Crafting a Pull Request Template

Pull requests are where code changes come together. A well-structured pull request template helps reviewers understand the changes, the motivation behind them, and how they were tested. This is key for maintaining code quality and minimizing merge conflicts. Here’s how to create a pull request template:

1. Create the File: In the .github/ directory (not inside ISSUE_TEMPLATE/), create a file named pull_request_template.md.

2. Paste the Content: Copy and paste the following Markdown into your pull_request_template.md file:

   ## Description
   
   Please include a summary of the change and which issue is fixed. Please also include relevant motivation and context.
   
   Fixes # (issue)
   
   ## Type of change
   
   Please delete options that are not relevant.
   
   - [ ] Bug fix (non-breaking change which fixes an issue)
   - [ ] New feature (non-breaking change which adds functionality)
   - [ ] Breaking change (fix or feature that would cause existing functionality to not work as expected)
   - [ ] This change requires a documentation update
   
   ## How Has This Been Tested?
   
   Please describe the tests that you ran to verify your changes.
   
   - [ ] `make test`
   - [ ] `make bench`
   - [ ] Manual test (please describe)
   
   ## Checklist:
   
   - [ ] My code follows the style guidelines of this project
   - [ ] I have performed a self-review of my own code
   - [ ] I have commented my code, particularly in hard-to-understand areas
   - [ ] I have made corresponding changes to the documentation
   - [ ] My changes generate no new warnings
   - [ ] I have added tests that prove my fix is effective or that my feature works
   

   Let’s dissect this template:

   • Description: Asks for a summary of the changes, the issue it fixes, and the motivation behind the changes. This is your elevator pitch for your code!
   • Type of change: A checklist to categorize the type of change (bug fix, new feature, breaking change, etc.). This helps reviewers quickly understand the scope of the changes.
   • How Has This Been Tested?: Prompts the author to describe the tests they ran to verify their changes. This is crucial for ensuring code quality.
   • Checklist: A comprehensive checklist covering coding style, self-review, commenting, documentation, warnings, and testing. This acts as a final quality check before the pull request is reviewed.

Definition of Done: Knowing When You're Finished

So, how do you know when you've successfully implemented these templates? Here’s a checklist:

• [ ] The .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/ directory exists in your repository with bug_report.md and feature_request.md files inside.
• [ ] The .github/pull_request_template.md file exists in the .github/ directory.
• [ ] When you click the "New Issue" button in GitHub, you are presented with options for "Bug Report" and "Feature Request."
• [ ] When creating a new pull request, the text field is automatically pre-filled with the content from pull_request_template.md.

Once you've ticked off all these boxes, congratulations! You've successfully set up issue and pull request templates.

Conclusion: Templates for the Win!

Creating issue and pull request templates might seem like a small task, but it has a huge impact on team communication, code quality, and overall project efficiency. By standardizing how information is presented, you'll save time, reduce confusion, and make the development process smoother for everyone. So go ahead, implement these templates, and watch your team's workflow transform!

For more information on best practices for pull requests, check out this guide from Atlassian.