Why Measuring Pull Requests May Be Hurting Your Software Team's Performance
A software engineering advocate argues that measuring pull request metrics—such as duration and throughput—is counterproductive because PRs inherently slow down code integration and delivery. Citing a DX study of over 500 organizations, the author notes that the longer PRs remain open, the less code developers ship, particularly in high-performing teams. Rather than optimizing a practice that introduces delays, the author urges engineering leaders to adopt DORA metrics—deployment frequency, lead time for changes, change failure rate, and time to restore service—as more meaningful indicators of delivery performance. The piece contends that continuous integration with trunk-based development is a superior alternative, supported by over a decade of DORA research showing that speed and stability improve together. Using a marathon analogy, the author warns that measuring and rewarding PR efficiency is akin to timing tea service during a race—optimizing a stop that should not exist in the first place.
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