Stacked PRs: The Code Review Workflow That Changed How I Ship Features
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Stacked PRs (stacked diffs) are a code review workflow where each pull request targets another PR's branch instead of main, forming a chain of small, focused changes. This approach keeps developers unblocked during review cycles, reduces reviewer fatigue from large PRs, and shortens feedback loops. The post explains the concept with a concrete authentication feature example split into schema, API, and UI layers, then covers the trickiest part — cascading rebases when an earlier PR receives feedback — with explicit git commands including the use of --force-with-lease. Practical tips cover branch naming conventions, PR descriptions, batching feedback fixes, and the cultural mindset shift required for teams to adopt smaller, more frequent PRs.
