How large pull requests slow down development
Blog post from Graphite
Managing and minimizing complexity in software engineering is crucial, as overly complex codebases can lead to "change amplification," where simple changes require widespread modifications, slowing down development. This issue, common in early web development, has been mitigated by modern practices that centralize design elements. An analysis of 1.5 million pull requests (PRs) reveals that those involving fewer file changes merge faster, highlighting the need for systems that minimize file touch points to maintain high engineering efficiency. Surprisingly, as PR complexity increases, the time spent reviewing each file decreases, possibly due to reviewers adopting broader evaluation strategies and encountering more repetitive changes. This data underscores the importance of keeping PRs small to ensure efficient reviews and high-quality code, with strategies like "stacking" and simplifying software design being recommended to manage complexity. Tools like Graphite facilitate these practices, helping teams maintain development velocity and reduce the risk of regressions by limiting change amplification.
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