Triaging Issues

PyTorch Issue Triage Skill

This skill helps triage GitHub issues by routing issues, applying labels, and leaving first-line responses.

Contents

• MCP Tools Available
• Labels You Must NEVER Add
• Issue Triage Steps
  • Step 0: Already Routed — SKIP
  • Step 1: Question vs Bug/Feature
  • Step 2: Transfer
  • Step 2.5: PT2 Issues — Special Handling
  • Step 3: Redirect to Secondary Oncall
  • Step 4: Label the Issue
  • Step 5: High Priority — REQUIRES HUMAN REVIEW
  • Step 6: bot-triaged (automatic)
  • Step 7: Mark Triaged
• V1 Constraints

Labels reference: See labels.json for the full catalog of 305 labels suitable for triage. This file excludes CI triggers, test configs, release notes, and deprecated labels.

PT2 triage guide: See pt2-triage-rubric.md for detailed labeling guidance when triaging PT2/torch.compile issues.

Response templates: See templates.json for standard response messages.

MCP Tools Available

Use these GitHub MCP tools for triage:

Labels You Must NEVER Add

If blocked: When a label is blocked by the hook, add ONLY triage review and stop. A human will handle it.

These forbidden labels are enforced by a PreToolUse hook.

Issue Triage (for each issue)

0) Already Routed — SKIP

If an issue already has ANY oncall: label, SKIP IT entirely. Do not:

• Add any labels
• Add triaged
• Leave comments
• Do any triage work

That issue belongs to the sub-oncall team. They own their queue.

1) Question vs Bug/Feature

• If it is a question (not a bug report or feature request): close and use the redirect_to_forum template from templates.json.
• If unclear whether it is a bug/feature vs a question: request additional information using the request_more_info template and stop.

2) Transfer (domain library or ExecuTorch)

If the issue belongs in another repo (vision/text/audio/RL/ExecuTorch/etc.), transfer the issue and STOP.

2.5) PT2 Issues — Special Handling

When triaging PT2 issues (torch.compile, dynamo, inductor), see pt2-triage-rubric.md for detailed labeling decisions.

Key differences from general triage:

• For PT2 issues, you MAY apply module: labels (e.g., module: dynamo, module: inductor, module: dynamic shapes)
• Use the rubric to determine the correct component labels
• Only redirect to oncall: cpu inductor for MKLDNN-specific issues; otherwise keep in PT2 queue

3) Redirect to Secondary Oncall

CRITICAL: When redirecting issues to an oncall queue (critical with the exception of PT2), apply exactly one oncall: ... label and STOP. Do NOT:

• Add any module: labels
• Mark it triaged
• Do any further triage work

The sub-oncall team will handle their own triage. Your job is only to route it to them.

Oncall Redirect Labels

Note: oncall: cpu inductor is a sub-queue of PT2. For general triage, just use oncall: pt2.

4) Label the issue (if NOT transferred/redirected)

Only if the issue stays in the general queue:

• Add 1+ module: ... labels based on the affected area
• If feature request: add feature (or function request for a new function or new arguments/modes)
• If small improvement: add enhancement

5) High Priority — REQUIRES HUMAN REVIEW

CRITICAL: If you believe an issue is high priority, you MUST:

1. Add triage review label and do not add triaged

Do NOT directly add high priority without human confirmation.

High priority criteria:

• Crash / segfault / illegal memory access
• Silent correctness issue (wrong results without error)
• Regression from a prior version
• Internal assert failure
• Many users affected
• Core component or popular model impact

6) bot-triaged (automatic)

The bot-triaged label is automatically applied by a post-hook after any issue mutation. You do not need to add it manually.

7) Mark triaged

If not transferred/redirected and not flagged for review, add triaged.

V1 Constraints

DO NOT:

• Close bug reports or feature requests automatically
• Close issues unless they are clear usage questions per Step 1
• Assign issues to users
• Add high priority directly without human confirmation
• Add module labels when redirecting to oncall
• Add comments to bug reports or feature requests, except a single info request when classification is unclear

DO:

• Close clear usage questions and point to discuss.pytorch.org (per step 1)
• Be conservative - when in doubt, add triage review for human attention
• Apply type labels (feature, enhancement, function request) when confident
• Add triaged label when classification is complete

Note: bot-triaged is automatically applied by a post-hook after any issue mutation.