# stacked-prs

A skill that walks the agent through building stacks of dependent pull requests, where each branch grows from the previous one instead of main. Useful when a large feature is split into phases.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 362 installs · ★ 78
- Author: bobmatnyc
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills/tree/HEAD/universal/collaboration/stacked-prs/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-07-18
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/stacked-prs

## What it does

The skill lays out the stacked PR workflow: the base PR targets main, the next branch starts from the base branch, the third from the second. Sequential numbering in branch names (`feature/001-base-auth`, `feature/002-user-profile`, `feature/003-admin-panel`) shows merge order. It also ships a PR description template with a dependency list and a stack overview block, so a reviewer can see where one phase ends.

Rebasing gets its own section. When the base PR changes after review, dependent branches are rebased onto the updated base, and the skill insists on `--force-with-lease` rather than `--force`. For merging it recommends the sequential route: merge PR-001 into main, retarget PR-002's base to main, merge, then repeat for the third.

By default the skill tells you to prefer plain main-based PRs and only stack on an explicit request. That matters: without appetite for the rebase cycle, a stack just adds work. Independent features and several agents running in parallel are not the case for it.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --skill stacked-prs -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/stacked-prs/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/stacked-prs/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --skill stacked-prs -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/stacked-prs/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --skill stacked-prs -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/stacked-prs/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills stacked-prs
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/stacked-prs/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --skill stacked-prs -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --path universal/collaboration/stacked-prs
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/stacked-prs/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --skill stacked-prs -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills/tree/HEAD/universal/collaboration/stacked-prs/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- split a large feature into phases with clear dependencies
- branch from the previous feature branch instead of main
- document which changes belong to a single PR
- rebase dependent branches after the base PR is updated
- merge a stack one PR at a time, retargeting each base to main

## Example prompts
- create stacked PRs for this feature: base is authentication, second phase is user profile
- rebase feature/002-user-profile onto the updated feature/001-base-auth and push with --force-with-lease
- write the PR description with a dependency list and a stack overview

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 652f4e9c42ba59e1.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 652f4e9c42ba59e1
````text
---
name: stacked-prs
description: Create and manage stacked (dependent) pull requests for complex features
user-invocable: false
disable-model-invocation: true
tags: [git, pull-requests, branching, workflow, collaboration]
related_agents: [version-control]
progressive_disclosure:
  entry_point:
    summary: "Create and manage stacked (dependent) pull requests for complex features"
    when_to_use: "When working with version control, branches, or pull requests."
    quick_start: "1. Review the core concepts below. 2. Apply patterns to your use case. 3. Follow best practices for implementation."
---
# Stacked Pull Requests

## Overview

Stacked PRs are dependent pull requests where each PR builds on the previous one. Use this pattern for complex features that need logical separation and parallel review.

## When to Use

### ✅ Use Stacked PRs When:
- User explicitly requests "stacked PRs" or "dependent PRs"
- Large feature needs to be split into logical phases
- Each phase has clear dependencies on previous phases
- User is comfortable with rebase workflows

### ❌ Use Main-Based PRs When (Default):
- Features are independent
- Simple bug fixes or enhancements
- Multiple agents working in parallel
- User doesn't specify preference

**DEFAULT: Always prefer main-based PRs unless user explicitly requests stacking.**

## Branch Naming Convention

Use sequential numbering to show dependencies:

```bash
feature/001-base-authentication       # PR-001 (base)
feature/002-user-profile              # PR-002 (depends on 001)
feature/003-admin-panel               # PR-003 (depends on 002)
```

Alternative patterns:
```bash
auth/01-foundation
auth/02-user-flow
auth/03-admin-features
```

## Creating Stacked PRs

### Step 1: Create Base PR (PR-001)

```bash
# Start from main
git checkout main
git pull origin main

# Create base branch
git checkout -b feature/001-base-auth

# Implement base functionality
# ... work ...

# Push and create PR
git push -u origin feature/001-base-auth

# Create PR in GitHub/GitLab
# Title: "[1/3] Base authentication foundation"
# Base: main
# Description: Include stack overview (see template below)
```

### Step 2: Create Dependent PR (PR-002)

**CRITICAL: Base on previous feature branch, NOT main**

```bash
# Start from PR-001's branch
git checkout feature/001-base-auth
git pull origin feature/001-base-auth

# Create dependent branch
git checkout -b feature/002-user-profile

# Implement dependent functionality
# ... work ...

# Push and create PR
git push -u origin feature/002-user-profile
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 652f4e9c42ba59e1

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 652f4e9c42ba59e1 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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