Pull requests, aka merge requests, are a goldmine of information that many testers are missing out on. Although pull requests are often seen as a tool mainly for developers, they offer testers an equal opportunity to provide feedback. When joining the review process testers can contribute to the software quality before changes are added to the codebase. They can use their unique perspective to uncover insights that go beyond the code. They will learn more about the bigger picture of the application. And ultimately, testers can apply these observations to their testing and help the team prevent bugs.In this talk, Andrea will introduce how testers can get involved in the pull request review process. She will demonstrate how testers can shift left and proactively engage with the source code changes. The step-by-step approach covers everything from checking policies and standards. It also includes looking at build pipelines, code changes, and unit tests. Starting with the basics, the session gives clear examples at every stage, making it easy to follow along.Andrea will highlight practical examples and insights drawn from real-life experiences, providing actionable tips on how to get the most out of pull request reviews. The session illustrates how testers can analyze pull requests for quality, learn more about the source code, and make a real impact through their feedback.At the end of the session, attendees will have a hands-on guide to reviewing pull requests. They will be ready to take a closer look at their team’s work and discover new insights, just as curious koalas explore branches to find tasty leaves of eucalyptus. It’s time for testers and their teams to realise the untapped potential of making pull request reviews a shared responsibility.
Key takeaways:- Understand the elements of a pull request and know about the basic principles of the Git workflow
- Learn how to shift-left and contribute to the pull request review process
- By the end of the session, participants will be able to start reviewing pull requests
