Pull requests aren't created in a single perfect submission. They evolve. Developers push fix-up commits, address review feedback, refine implementations, and iterate toward approval. Each push is an opportunity - and Devonair treats it as one.
When commits are added to a PR, Devonair's AI analyzes the new changes and applies the same quality improvements it would apply at PR creation. But it does this incrementally, using intelligent analysis to focus only on what's new while maintaining what was already improved.
This guide covers how Devonair handles commits added to PRs - the continuous improvement that keeps pull requests in optimal shape through every iteration.
The Iteration Reality
PRs evolve through multiple commits.
Why PRs Need Multiple Commits
Real development isn't linear:
Typical PR evolution:
1. Initial submission
2. Address review feedback
3. Fix edge case discovered
4. Resolve merge conflict
5. Incorporate late requirements
6. Final polish
Each commit represents another chance for issues to slip in - or for Devonair to catch them.
The Degradation Risk
Quality can slip during iteration:
Without Devonair:
- Initial commit: well-formatted
- Fix commit: rushed formatting
- Review response: inconsistent style
- Merge resolution: broken tests
- Final state: accumulated problems
Devonair prevents this degradation by maintaining quality on every push.
The Reviewer Burden
Reviewers see cumulative state:
Reviewer experience without Devonair:
- Review initial submission
- Request changes
- Review again
- New issues introduced
- Request more changes
- Cycle continues
Devonair breaks this cycle by fixing issues before reviewers see them.
What Devonair Does on Commits Added
Continuous quality maintenance.
Incremental Analysis
Devonair focuses on what's new:
@devonair incremental analysis:
- Identify new commits since last run
- Analyze only changed code
- Skip already-improved code
- Apply fixes to new additions
Devonair doesn't re-run full analysis on every push. Its AI intelligently focuses on what's changed, making improvements efficient and relevant.
Format Consistency
Devonair keeps formatting consistent:
@devonair format on commits added:
- Format new code to match standards
- Preserve previous formatting fixes
- Maintain consistency across commits
- Commit formatting changes
Even rushed fix-up commits get proper formatting. Devonair ensures the PR's formatting never degrades, regardless of how quickly new commits are pushed.
Lint Fix Continuation
Devonair catches new violations:
@devonair lint on commits added:
- Run linter on new code
- Fix new violations automatically
- Skip previously-fixed code
- Report new issues found
New code gets the same lint scrutiny as the initial submission. Devonair catches new violations immediately, preventing accumulation.
Test Synchronization
Devonair keeps tests aligned with code:
@devonair sync tests on commits added:
- Detect code changes affecting tests
- Update test expectations
- Add tests for new code paths
- Remove tests for deleted code
- Verify test suite passes
As implementation changes, tests need to change too. Devonair automatically updates tests to match, preventing the drift that causes test failures.
When developers change function signatures or behavior, Devonair updates the affected tests. When new code paths appear, Devonair adds coverage. When code is deleted, Devonair removes the now-irrelevant tests.
Documentation Updates
Devonair maintains documentation accuracy:
@devonair update docs on commits added:
- Detect API changes
- Update function documentation
- Revise inline comments
- Keep README accurate
- Maintain sync through iterations
Documentation written for the initial implementation becomes outdated when that implementation changes. Devonair catches these drift situations and updates documentation automatically.
Security Re-scanning
Devonair verifies security on every change:
@devonair security scan on commits added:
- Scan new commits for vulnerabilities
- Verify previous fixes still apply
- Check for new security issues
- Alert on new exposures
Security isn't a one-time check. Every commit could introduce vulnerabilities. Devonair scans continuously, ensuring security throughout PR development.
Regression Detection
Devonair catches unintended changes:
@devonair detect regressions on commits added:
- Compare new code to previous state
- Identify unintended behavioral changes
- Flag potential regressions
- Alert developer before reviewer finds it
Fix-up commits sometimes break other things. Devonair's AI catches these regressions immediately, before they compound or confuse reviewers.
The Feedback Response Scenario
A common pattern where Devonair shines.
The Feedback Loop
Typical review feedback response:
Without Devonair:
1. Reviewer requests changes
2. Developer makes quick fixes
3. Quick fixes introduce new issues
4. Reviewer finds new issues
5. More changes requested
6. Cycle repeats
With Devonair:
With Devonair:
1. Reviewer requests changes
2. Developer makes quick fixes
3. Devonair fixes ancillary issues
4. Reviewer sees clean response
5. PR approved
Devonair breaks the cycle by catching the issues that would otherwise generate more feedback.
Addressing Review Comments
When developers address feedback:
@devonair on review response:
- Format the fix code
- Check for new lint issues
- Update related tests
- Verify fix doesn't break other things
- Maintain overall quality
Rushing to address review comments often means skipping quality steps. Devonair handles those steps automatically, so developers can focus on the fix logic.
Preventing Regression
Review responses can break other things:
@devonair regression prevention:
- Track what existed before
- Verify fix doesn't break existing
- Flag if tests start failing
- Alert on unintended changes
Devonair prevents the scenario where fixing one review comment breaks something else.
Merge Conflict Resolution
When conflicts are resolved, Devonair verifies the result.
Post-Resolution Verification
After developers resolve conflicts:
@devonair post-conflict verification:
- Verify merge resolution integrity
- Check for introduced issues
- Re-run relevant tests
- Format resolved code
- Validate consistency
Merge conflict resolution is error-prone. Devonair provides a safety net, verifying that the resolution maintains code quality.
Conflict Pattern Detection
Devonair identifies problematic resolutions:
@devonair conflict analysis:
- Identify potentially incorrect resolutions
- Flag both-sides inclusions
- Detect logic conflicts
- Alert on suspicious patterns
Some conflict resolutions look correct but aren't. AI-powered analysis catches common resolution errors that would otherwise slip through.
Maintaining PR Health
Keeping the PR in optimal state.
Review Readiness
Devonair keeps PRs ready for review:
@devonair maintain readiness:
- PR always in reviewable state
- Tests passing
- Formatting correct
- Documentation current
- No obvious issues
At any moment, a reviewer might look at the PR. Devonair ensures they always see quality code.
Change Summary Updates
Devonair keeps PR descriptions current:
@devonair update PR description:
- Reflect current state of changes
- Update scope if expanded
- Note significant iterations
- Keep summary accurate
PR descriptions often become outdated as the PR evolves. Devonair can update them to reflect the current state of changes.
Reviewer Notification
Devonair communicates its activities:
@devonair communication on commits:
- Comment summarizing Devonair changes
- Note what was fixed
- Highlight what needs attention
- Keep everyone informed
Reviewers and developers see exactly what Devonair did on each push. Transparency builds trust.
Configuration for Continuous Improvement
Customizing Devonair's iteration behavior.
Frequency Control
How often Devonair runs:
@devonair frequency configuration:
Every commit:
- Security scanning
- Critical lint checks
Batched (after quiet period):
- Formatting
- Documentation
- Test updates
On request:
- Full re-analysis
- Deep inspection
Not every automation needs to run on every commit. Devonair can batch less-critical improvements while immediately handling critical checks.
Scope Control
What Devonair analyzes:
@devonair scope configuration:
Incremental (default):
- Only new commits
- Focus on changes
- Efficient processing
Full (when needed):
- Entire PR
- Complete analysis
- Comprehensive check
Incremental analysis is usually appropriate, but sometimes a full analysis is needed. Devonair supports both.
Notification Settings
How Devonair communicates:
@devonair notification configuration:
Verbose:
- Comment on every run
- Detail all changes
- Comprehensive reporting
Quiet:
- Only comment when issues found
- Minimal noise
- Changes visible in commits
Summary:
- Periodic summaries
- Grouped updates
- Balanced approach
Teams have different preferences for how much Devonair should communicate. Configure to match your team's style.
Measuring Continuous Improvement Value
Understanding Devonair's iteration impact.
Iteration Metrics
Track improvement across commits:
@devonair iteration metrics:
- Issues fixed per commit
- Review cycles eliminated
- Regressions caught
- Quality maintained through iterations
Devonair's value compounds across commits. Track metrics to understand the cumulative benefit.
Time Savings
Quantify efficiency gains:
Efficiency tracking:
- Time from push to review-ready
- Review iterations per PR
- Time spent on mechanical feedback
- Developer velocity improvement
Every issue Devonair catches is time saved for both developers and reviewers.
Quality Trends
Monitor long-term improvements:
Quality trend monitoring:
- Code quality consistency
- Issue introduction rate
- Fix-up commit quality
- Overall PR health
Over time, Devonair's continuous improvement raises the baseline quality of all code.
Real Scenarios
How Devonair handles common situations.
The Quick Fix-Up
Developer pushes a small fix:
Scenario: One-line fix-up commit
@devonair response:
- Quick format check
- Security scan
- Verify tests still pass
- Minimal intervention
Small commits get appropriate treatment - thorough but not excessive.
The Major Revision
Developer significantly changes implementation:
Scenario: Major implementation revision
@devonair response:
- Full format of new code
- Update affected tests
- Revise documentation
- Complete security scan
- Comprehensive treatment
Major changes get comprehensive attention, ensuring quality through substantial revisions.
The Merge Conflict Resolution
Developer resolves merge conflicts:
Scenario: Merge conflict resolved
@devonair response:
- Verify resolution integrity
- Format resolved code
- Check for introduced issues
- Validate consistency
Conflict resolution gets special attention - it's a common source of subtle bugs.
The Review Response Sprint
Developer rapidly addresses multiple comments:
Scenario: Multiple quick commits addressing feedback
@devonair response:
- Process each commit incrementally
- Maintain quality through rapid iteration
- Batch notifications if configured
- Keep PR healthy despite rapid changes
Even during rapid iteration, Devonair keeps the PR in good shape.
Best Practices
Getting the most from continuous improvement.
Trust the Process
Let Devonair handle mechanical quality:
Developer approach:
- Focus on logic and intent
- Trust Devonair for formatting
- Let Devonair catch lint issues
- Concentrate on what matters
Developers are most productive when they focus on what machines can't do. Let Devonair handle the rest.
Review Devonair's Changes
Verify Devonair is helping:
Verification approach:
- Check Devonair commits periodically
- Ensure changes are appropriate
- Adjust configuration if needed
- Provide feedback
Devonair improves when you pay attention to its work. Review and adjust as needed.
Communicate with Reviewers
Keep reviewers informed:
Communication approach:
- Note when Devonair has processed
- Distinguish your changes from Devonair's
- Collaborate around Devonair
Reviewers should understand which commits are Devonair's improvements versus the developer's changes.
Getting Started
Enable continuous improvement on your PRs.
Enable Commit Triggers
Activate Devonair on commits:
@devonair enable commit triggers:
1. Configure PR commit webhook
2. Set analysis preferences
3. Define notification settings
4. Test with a sample PR
Commit triggers are the foundation of continuous improvement.
Configure Incrementally
Start with basics:
@devonair incremental configuration:
Start: Formatting only
Add: Linting
Add: Security scanning
Add: Test synchronization
Add: Documentation updates
Build up continuous improvement gradually, validating each addition.
Monitor and Adjust
Refine based on experience:
@devonair monitoring:
- Watch Devonair's behavior
- Gather team feedback
- Adjust configuration
- Optimize for your workflow
Continuous improvement of continuous improvement - meta but necessary.
PRs are journeys, not destinations. They evolve through multiple commits, responding to feedback, resolving conflicts, refining implementations. Devonair accompanies this journey, maintaining quality through every iteration. Each commit triggers intelligent analysis and improvement, ensuring the PR stays in optimal shape from first push to final merge.
FAQ
Does Devonair re-run everything on every commit?
No. Devonair analyzes incrementally, focusing on what's new. It doesn't waste resources re-checking unchanged code. Previous improvements are preserved; new code gets analyzed.
What if I push many commits quickly?
Devonair can batch analysis when rapid commits occur. It waits for a quiet period before running, avoiding redundant processing. This is configurable based on your preferences.
How does Devonair handle force pushes?
Force pushes trigger a fresh analysis of the new commit state. Devonair compares against the target branch and applies appropriate improvements to the new state.
Can Devonair handle rebases?
Yes. Rebases are essentially new commit sets from Devonair's perspective. Devonair analyzes the rebased commits and applies improvements appropriate to the new state.
What if Devonair's changes conflict with my next commit?
Devonair's commits are designed to be non-disruptive. If conflicts occur, they're typically minor formatting differences that merge easily. Devonair tries to stay out of the way while still providing value.