jtenniswood /merge
Goal
Take one identified pull request through the repository's final review and conflict-resolution workflows, then merge it when GitHub reports that it is ready. Invoking this skill authorizes the merge attempt for that pull request; it does not authorize bypassing protections, merging unrelated work, closing issues, or claiming that physical device testing occurred.
Workflow
1. Identify One Pull Request
Use the PR number or URL supplied by the user or the single PR clearly identified by the current chat. If there is not exactly one PR with confidence, stop and ask for its number or URL. Do not select one by recency, branch, or the open PR list.
Record the PR's URL, title, base and head branches, draft state, review decision, merge state, and checks. Keep the same PR number through every stage below.
2. Clear Review Feedback
Read and follow the pr-review skill completely for the
identified PR. Address and push all actionable unresolved feedback and resolve
only the threads that were actually addressed.
Do not continue toward merge if actionable feedback remains, a requested change is intentionally left open, or the review workflow cannot safely complete. Report what blocks the merge instead.
3. Update the Branch and Resolve Conflicts
After review feedback is clear, read and follow the resolve-pr-conflicts
skill completely for the same PR. Bring the
latest base branch into the PR branch and resolve any conflicts, preserving both
the PR's intent and newer base-branch changes. Push the result.
The nested skill normally leaves a PR open; for this /merge workflow, continue
to the readiness gate below because the user explicitly requested a merge.
If the source branch cannot be updated, the conflict resolution is uncertain, or a replacement PR would be required, stop without merging and explain the next action needed.
4. Recheck Merge Readiness
After every review fix, conflict resolution, base-branch update, and other push is complete, refresh GitHub state and record the current head as the candidate head SHA. Wait for checks triggered by that exact commit to finish. Before merging, require all of the following for the candidate head:
- the PR is open and not a draft;
- GitHub reports it mergeable with no conflicts;
- no actionable unresolved review threads or change requests remain;
- all required reviews and required status checks have passed;
- after the last head-changing push, the user has explicitly confirmed they tested the candidate head's relevant behavior;
- branch protection does not report another unmet requirement.
Run any focused local check required by the two nested skills. Do not treat a local build as physical device testing, and do not waive a required check because a similar local command passed.
User confirmation is mandatory even when automated checks pass or the current request says to merge. If the user has not confirmed testing, prepare the PR as far as possible, leave it open, and ask them to test it. Never infer physical device testing from a build or compile result. Any later head-changing push, including another review fix or base-branch update, invalidates both the readiness result and the testing confirmation; repeat this step for the new candidate head.
If GitHub is still calculating mergeability, refresh briefly. If checks are pending, wait for them rather than enabling auto-merge. If any gate fails, leave the PR open and report the exact blocker with links where possible. Never use an administrator override or otherwise bypass branch protection.
5. Merge
Refresh the PR once more and compare its current head SHA with the candidate head
recorded and validated in step 4. If they differ, do not merge; return to step 4
and validate the new head. Merge the identified PR using the repository's
established merge method, preferring squash when no clear convention is
available. Bind the merge to the unchanged candidate head SHA so it fails safely
if another commit arrives. Prefer GitHub connector tools when available and pass
their expected-head equivalent; otherwise use
gh pr merge <number> --squash --match-head-commit <candidate-head-sha> (or the
established method's equivalent).
Do not delete the source branch or close linked issues as part of this skill. After the command returns, refresh the PR. If GitHub placed it in a merge queue, monitor the queued PR at reasonable intervals until GitHub reports it merged or reports that it left the queue without merging. Do not treat queue admission as success, and do not stop merely because the PR remains open while queued. If it leaves the queue without merging, report the rejection or failed requirement and leave the PR open. Otherwise, verify that GitHub reports the PR as merged. A successful command or queue admission alone is not sufficient confirmation.
Final Update
Keep the result concise and include:
- the PR number, title, and URL;
- review feedback addressed or confirmation that none remained;
- conflict/base-branch update performed;
- final checks and review state;
- the verified merge result, or the precise blocker if it stayed open.