Create a Pull Request

This tutorial walks through creating a single pull request using LazyJJ.

Prerequisites

• LazyJJ installed
• GitHub CLI (gh) installed and authenticated
• A Git repository with a GitHub remote

Step 1: Start Fresh from Trunk

Begin by syncing with the latest trunk and starting a new commit:

jj stack-start

This command:

1. Fetches the latest changes from the remote
2. Creates a new commit on top of trunk

Step 2: Make Your Changes

Edit files as usual. In JJ, your working copy is a commit, so changes are automatically tracked:

# Edit files with your favorite editor
vim src/auth.js

# Check what's changed
jj status

# See the diff
jj diff

No git add needed - all changes are part of your current commit.

Step 3: Describe Your Commit

Add a commit message describing your changes:

jj describe -m "feat: Add user authentication"

You can run this multiple times to update the message.

Step 4: Create a Bookmark

PRs need a branch name. Create a bookmark (JJ’s term for a branch):

jj bookmark-create auth-feature

This creates a bookmark pointing at your current commit.

Note about Bookmarks vs Branches: JJ calls them “bookmarks” while GitHub calls them “branches.” They’re the same thing. Why the different term? JJ bookmarks don’t auto-follow like Git branches—you must manually update them. This is THE most common confusion for Git users. See Common Mistakes for details.

Step 5: Push and Create the PR

Push your changes and create a PR in one command:

jj pr-stack-create

This will:

1. Push your bookmark to the remote
2. Create a PR on GitHub (or update if it exists)
3. Open the PR form if it’s new

Step 6: Respond to Feedback

When reviewers request changes:

# Make your changes
vim src/auth.js

# Changes are automatically in your commit!
# Just push the update
jj stack-submit

No need to amend or create fixup commits. Your working copy automatically updates the commit.

Complete Workflow

Here’s the entire flow in one block:

# Start fresh
jj stack-start

# Make changes
vim src/auth.js
vim src/login.js

# Describe your work
jj describe -m "feat: Add user authentication

- Add auth middleware
- Add login endpoint
- Add session handling"

# Create bookmark for PR
jj bookmark-create auth-feature

# Push and create PR
jj pr-stack-create

Tips

Viewing Your PR

# View PR details in terminal
jj pr-view

# Open PR in browser
jj pr-open

Updating After Review

# Make requested changes
vim src/auth.js

# Push updates (PR updates automatically)
jj stack-submit

Draft PRs

When creating a PR with jj pr-stack-create, you can choose to create it as a draft.

Next Steps

• Learn to Create a Stack of PRs
• See how to Navigate Your Stack
• Learn about Syncing with Remote