Simplify pull request checklist (#7096)

trexfeathers · web-flow · commit 3f0dd8ddbe07 · 2026-06-17T16:46:28.000+01:00
* Use a simpler pull request checklist, part of the GitHub template.

* Updates to Code Formatting page.

* Improved formatting of benchmarks docs.

* Updates to Contributing a Whats New page.

* Correct PR number curl command.

* What's New entry.

* More clarity about pre-commit further reading.

* Friendlier checklist.

* Better triggering guidance.

* Better line break.
diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -1,14 +1,27 @@
-## 🚀 Pull Request
+## Description
 
-### Description
-<!-- Provide a clear description about your awesome pull request -->
-<!-- Tell us all about your new feature, improvement, or bug fix -->
+_Please describe your awesome pull request_
 
+## Checklist
 
----
-[Consult Iris pull request check list]( https://scitools-iris.readthedocs.io/en/latest/developers_guide/contributing_pull_request_checklist.html)
+> [!IMPORTANT]
+> **The Iris core developers are here to help!** If anything below is unclear, just post a comment asking for help 😊
 
----
-Add any of the below labels to trigger actions on this PR:
+- [ ] Included a [**What's New**](https://scitools-iris.readthedocs.io/en/latest/developers_guide/documenting/whats_new_contributions.html) entry
+- [ ] Incorporated [**type hints**](https://scitools-iris.readthedocs.io/en/latest/developers_guide/contributing_code_formatting.html#type-hinting) in any changed code
+- [ ] Checked if [**tests**](https://scitools-iris.readthedocs.io/en/latest/developers_guide/contributing_tests.html) need updating
+- [ ] Checked if [**benchmarks**](../benchmarks/README.md#writing-benchmarks) need updating
+- [ ] Checked if **documentation** needs updating
+  - [Docstrings](https://scitools-iris.readthedocs.io/en/latest/developers_guide/documenting/docstrings.html) (we love code examples!)
+  - [User Manual](https://scitools-iris.readthedocs.io/en/latest/user_manual/) pages
+- [ ] Checked if [**dependencies**](https://scitools-iris.readthedocs.io/en/latest/developers_guide/contributing_ci_tests.html#gha-test-env) need updating
+- [ ] Confirmed that the GitHub **'checks'** on this PR are passing :white_check_mark:
+  _([further reading](https://scitools-iris.readthedocs.io/en/latest/developers_guide/contributing_ci_tests.html))_
 
-- https://github.com/SciTools/iris/labels/benchmark_this
+---
+> [!TIP]
+> Things you can trigger on this PR:
+>
+> - Add this label to trigger benchmarks: https://github.com/SciTools/iris/labels/benchmark_this
+> - Visit this URL - swapping `9999` for this PR's number - to re-trigger the [CLA check](https://github.com/SciTools/.github/wiki/Contributor-Licence-Agreement):
+>   `https://cla-assistant.io/check/SciTools/iris?pullRequest=9999`
diff --git a/benchmarks/README.md b/benchmarks/README.md
@@ -13,13 +13,17 @@ shifts in performance being flagged in a new GitHub issue.
 
 On GitHub: a Pull Request can be benchmarked by adding the 
 https://github.com/SciTools/iris/labels/benchmark_this 
-label to the PR (to run a second time: just remove and re-add the label).
+label to the PR.
 Note that a benchmark run could take an hour or more to complete.
 This runs a comparison between the PR branch's ``HEAD`` and its merge-base with
 the PR's base branch, thus showing performance differences introduced
 by the PR. (This run is managed by 
 [the aforementioned GitHub Action](../.github/workflows/benchmark.yml)).
 
+> [!TIP]
+> To run the benchmarks a second time: remove the
+> https://github.com/SciTools/iris/labels/benchmark_this label and add it again.
+
 To run locally: the **benchmark runner** provides conveniences for
 common benchmark setup and run tasks, including replicating the benchmarking
 performed by GitHub Actions workflows. This can be accessed by:
@@ -48,42 +52,17 @@ are not already. This can be done in several ways:
 
 ### Environment variables
 
-* `OVERRIDE_TEST_DATA_REPOSITORY` - required - some benchmarks use
-`iris-test-data` content, and your local `site.cfg` is not available for
-benchmark scripts. The benchmark runner defers to any value already set in
-the shell, but will otherwise download `iris-test-data` and set the variable
-accordingly.
-* `DATA_GEN_PYTHON` - required - path to a Python executable that can be
-used to generate benchmark test objects/files; see
-[Data generation](#data-generation). The benchmark runner sets this 
-automatically, but will defer to any value already set in the shell. Note that
-[Mule](https://github.com/MetOffice/mule) will be  automatically installed into 
-this environment, and sometimes 
-[iris-test-data](https://github.com/SciTools/iris-test-data) (see 
-`OVERRIDE_TEST_DATA_REPOSITORY`).
-* `BENCHMARK_DATA` - optional - path to a directory for benchmark synthetic
-test data, which the benchmark scripts will create if it doesn't already
-exist. Defaults to `<root>/benchmarks/.data/` if not set. Note that some of
-the generated files, especially in the 'SPerf' suite, are many GB in size so
-plan accordingly.
-* `ON_DEMAND_BENCHMARKS` - optional - when set (to any value): benchmarks
-decorated with `@on_demand_benchmark` are included in the ASV run. Usually
-coupled with the ASV `--bench` argument to only run the benchmark(s) of
-interest. Is set during the benchmark runner `cperf` and `sperf` sub-commands.
-* `ASV_COMMIT_ENVS` - optional - instruct the 
-[delegated environment management](#benchmark-environments) to create a
-dedicated environment for each commit being benchmarked when set (to any 
-value). This means that benchmarking commits with different environment 
-requirements will not be delayed by repeated environment setup - especially 
-relevant given the [benchmark runner](bm_runner.py)'s use of
-[--interleave-rounds](https://asv.readthedocs.io/en/stable/commands.html?highlight=interleave-rounds#asv-run),
-or any time you know you will repeatedly benchmark the same commit. **NOTE:**
-SciTools environments tend to large so this option can consume a lot of disk 
-space.
+| Name | Required | Description | Notes |
+|------|----------|-------------|-------|
+| `OVERRIDE_TEST_DATA_REPOSITORY` | **required** | Some benchmarks use `iris-test-data` content, and your local `site.cfg` is not available for benchmark scripts. The benchmark runner defers to any value already set in the shell, but will otherwise download `iris-test-data` and set the variable accordingly. |  |
+| `DATA_GEN_PYTHON` | **required** | Path to a Python executable that can be used to generate benchmark test objects/files; see [Data generation](#data-generation). The benchmark runner sets this automatically, but will defer to any value already set in the shell. | [Mule](https://github.com/MetOffice/mule) will be  automatically installed into this environment, and sometimes [iris-test-data](https://github.com/SciTools/iris-test-data) (see `OVERRIDE_TEST_DATA_REPOSITORY`). |
+| `BENCHMARK_DATA` | optional | Path to a directory for benchmark synthetic test data, which the benchmark scripts will create if it doesn't already exist. Defaults to `<root>/benchmarks/.data/` if not set. | Some of the generated files, especially in the 'SPerf' suite, are many GB in size so plan accordingly. |
+| `ON_DEMAND_BENCHMARKS` | optional | When set (to any value): benchmarks decorated with `@on_demand_benchmark` are included in the ASV run. Usually coupled with the ASV `--bench` argument to only run the benchmark(s) of interest. Is set during the benchmark runner `cperf` and `sperf` sub-commands. |  |
+| `ASV_COMMIT_ENVS` | optional | Instruct the [delegated environment management](#benchmark-environments) to create a dedicated environment for each commit being benchmarked when set (to any value). This means that benchmarking commits with different environment requirements will not be delayed by repeated environment setup - especially relevant given the [benchmark runner](bm_runner.py)'s use of [--interleave-rounds](https://asv.readthedocs.io/en/stable/commands.html?highlight=interleave-rounds#asv-run), or any time you know you will repeatedly benchmark the same commit. | **SciTools environments tend to be large so this option can consume a lot of disk space.** |
 
 ## Writing benchmarks
 
-[See the ASV docs](https://asv.readthedocs.io/) for full detail.
+[See the ASV docs](https://asv.readthedocs.io/en/stable/) for full detail.
 
 ### What benchmarks to write
 
@@ -96,19 +75,21 @@ positive regressions.
 We therefore recommend writing benchmarks representing scripts or single
 operations that are likely to be run at the user level.
 
-The drawback of this approach: a reported regression is less likely to reveal
-the root cause (e.g. if a commit caused a regression in coordinate-creation 
-time, but the only benchmark covering this was for file-loading). Be prepared
-for manual investigations; and consider committing any useful benchmarks as 
-[on-demand benchmarks](#on-demand-benchmarks) for future developers to use.
+> [!CAUTION]
+> The drawback of this approach: a reported regression is less likely to reveal
+> the root cause (e.g. if a commit caused a regression in coordinate-creation 
+> time, but the only benchmark covering this was for file-loading). Be prepared
+> for manual investigations; and consider committing any useful benchmarks as 
+> [on-demand benchmarks](#on-demand-benchmarks) for future developers to use.
 
 ### Data generation
 
-**Important:** be sure not to use the benchmarking environment to generate any
-test objects/files, as this environment changes with each commit being
-benchmarked, creating inconsistent benchmark 'conditions'. The
-[generate_data](./benchmarks/generate_data/__init__.py) module offers a
-solution; read more detail there.
+> [!WARNING]
+> Be sure not to use the benchmarking environment to generate any
+> test objects/files, as this environment changes with each commit being
+> benchmarked, creating inconsistent benchmark 'conditions'. The
+> [generate_data](./benchmarks/generate_data/__init__.py) module offers a
+> solution; read more detail there.
 
 ### ASV re-run behaviour
 
@@ -136,9 +117,10 @@ detail.
 
 ### Scaling / non-Scaling Performance Differences
 
-**(We no longer advocate the below for benchmarks run during CI, given the
-limited available runtime and risk of false-positives. It remains useful for
-manual investigations).**
+> [!CAUTION]
+> We no longer advocate the below for benchmarks run during CI, given the
+> limited available runtime and risk of false-positives. It remains useful for
+> manual investigations.
 
 When comparing performance between commits/file-type/whatever it can be helpful
 to know if the differences exist in scaling or non-scaling parts of the 
@@ -160,16 +142,16 @@ suites for the UK Met Office NG-VAT project.
 
 ## Benchmark environments
 
-We have disabled ASV's standard environment management, instead using an
+We have disabled ASV's standard environment management[^1], instead using an
 environment built using the same scripts that set up the package test 
 environments. 
 This is done using ASV's plugin architecture - see
 [`asv_delegated.py`](asv_delegated.py) and associated 
 references in [`asv.conf.json`](asv.conf.json) (`environment_type` and 
 `plugins`).
 
-(ASV is written to control the environment(s) that benchmarks are run in -
+[^1]: ASV is written to control the environment(s) that benchmarks are run in -
 minimising external factors and also allowing it to compare between a matrix
 of dependencies (each in a separate environment). We have chosen to sacrifice
 these features in favour of testing each commit with its intended dependencies,
-controlled by the test environment setup script(s)).
+controlled by the test environment setup script(s).
diff --git a/benchmarks/custom_bms/README.md b/benchmarks/custom_bms/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 To be recognised by ASV, these benchmarks must be packaged and installed in 
 line with the
-[ASV guidelines](https://asv.readthedocs.io/projects/asv-runner/en/latest/development/benchmark_plugins.html).
+[ASV guidelines](https://asv.readthedocs.io/projects/asv-runner/en/stable/development/benchmark_plugins.html).
 This is achieved using the custom build in [install.py](./install.py).
 
 Installation is into the environment where the benchmarks are run (i.e. not
diff --git a/benchmarks/custom_bms/install.py b/benchmarks/custom_bms/install.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 """Install the SciTools custom benchmarks for detection by ASV.
 
 See the requirements for being detected as an ASV plugin:
-https://asv.readthedocs.io/projects/asv-runner/en/latest/development/benchmark_plugins.html
+https://asv.readthedocs.io/projects/asv-runner/en/stable/development/benchmark_plugins.html
 """
 
 from pathlib import Path
diff --git a/benchmarks/custom_bms/tracemallocbench.py b/benchmarks/custom_bms/tracemallocbench.py
@@ -192,5 +192,5 @@ def too_slow(num_samples) -> bool:
         return samples, 1
 
 
-# https://asv.readthedocs.io/projects/asv-runner/en/latest/development/benchmark_plugins.html
+# https://asv.readthedocs.io/projects/asv-runner/en/stable/development/benchmark_plugins.html
 export_as_benchmark = [TracemallocBenchmark]
diff --git a/docs/src/developers_guide/contributing_ci_tests.rst b/docs/src/developers_guide/contributing_ci_tests.rst
@@ -92,6 +92,20 @@ If any CI tasks fail, then the pull-request is unlikely to be merged to the
 Iris target branch by a core developer.
 
 
+Data Repositories
+-----------------
+
+Two other SciTools repositories support the CI tasks:
+
+* `iris-test-data`_ is a github project containing all the data to support the tests.
+* `iris-sample-data`_ is a github project containing all the data to support the gallery and examples.
+
+If new files are required by tests or code examples, they must be added to
+the appropriate supporting project via a suitable pull-request.  This pull
+request should be referenced in the main Iris pull request and must be
+accepted and merged before the Iris one can be.
+
+
 .. _testing_cla:
 
 `CLA Assistant`_
diff --git a/docs/src/developers_guide/contributing_code_formatting.rst b/docs/src/developers_guide/contributing_code_formatting.rst
@@ -7,14 +7,15 @@ Code Formatting
 
 .. readingtime::
 
-To ensure a consistent code format throughout Iris, we recommend using
-tools to check the source directly.
+Also known as 'linting'. This is used to ensure a consistent code format
+throughout Iris, maximising the maintainability and quality. Code formatting
+is checked using the `pre-commit`_ tool, and the full list current formatting
+tools is defined in Iris' `pre-commit-config.yaml`_ file. Read more about
+linting on the `SciTools wiki page`_.
 
-* `black`_ for an opinionated coding auto-formatter
-* `flake8`_ linting checks
-
-The preferred way to run these tools automatically is to setup and configure
-`pre-commit`_.
+``pre-commit`` compliance is automatically checked on all Iris pull requests
+(more info: :ref:`pre_commit_ci`), but you can also run pre-commit locally as
+Git hooks - every time you make a commit. Read on to learn more about local running.
 
 You can install ``pre-commit`` in your development environment using ``pip``::
 
@@ -34,15 +35,14 @@ the root directory of Iris::
 
     $ pre-commit install
 
-Upon performing a ``git commit``, your code will now be automatically formatted
-to the ``black`` configuration defined in our ``pyproject.toml`` file, and
-linted according to our ``.flake8`` configuration file. Note that,
+Upon performing a ``git commit``, your code changes will be automatically
+checked against all Iris' ``pre-commit`` hooks. For some hooks this includes
+automated edits of your code e.g. formatting or sorting of imports; these new
+edits are not staged for you - i.e. you need to run ``git add`` again on that
+file. Note that,
 ``pre-commit`` will automatically download and install the necessary packages
 for each ``.pre-commit-config.yaml`` git hook.
 
-Additionally, you may wish to enable ``black`` for your preferred
-`editor/IDE <https://black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/integrations/editors.html#editor-integration>`_.
-
 With the ``pre-commit`` configured, the output of performing a ``git commit``
 will look similar to::
 
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@ will look similar to::
     2 files changed, 10 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)
 
 
-.. note:: You can also run `black`_ and `flake8`_ manually.  Please see the
-          their officially documentation for more information.
+.. _type_hinting:
 
 Type Hinting
 ------------
@@ -69,3 +68,5 @@ add/improve them.
 
 
 .. _pre-commit: https://pre-commit.com/
+.. _pre-commit-config.yaml: https://github.com/SciTools/iris/blob/main/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+.. _SciTools wiki page: https://github.com/SciTools/.github/wiki/Linting
diff --git a/docs/src/developers_guide/contributing_pull_request_checklist.rst b/docs/src/developers_guide/contributing_pull_request_checklist.rst
@@ -7,57 +7,11 @@ Pull Request Checklist
 
 .. readingtime::
 
-All pull request will be reviewed by a core developer who will manage the
-process of merging. It is the responsibility of the contributor submitting a
-pull request to do their best to deliver a pull request which meets the
-requirements of the project it is submitted to.
+.. attention::
 
-This check list summarises criteria which will be checked before a pull request
-is merged.  Before submitting a pull request please consider the following:
+   The checklist has moved!
 
+   The latest checklist is now part of the `GitHub pull request template`_.
 
-#. **Provide a helpful description** of the Pull Request.  This should include:
 
-   * The aim of the change / the problem addressed / a link to the issue.
-   * How the change has been delivered.
-
-#. **Include a "What's New" entry**, if appropriate.
-   See :ref:`whats_new_contributions`.
-
-#. **Check all tests pass**.  This includes existing tests and any new tests
-   added for any new functionality.  For more information see
-   :ref:`developer_running_tests`.
-
-#. **Check all modified and new source files conform to the required**
-   :ref:`code_formatting`.
-
-#. **Check all new dependencies added to the** `requirements`_ **yaml
-   files.**  If dependencies have been added then new nox testing lockfiles
-   should be generated too, see :ref:`gha_test_env`.
-
-#. **Check the source documentation been updated to explain all new or changed
-   features**.  Note, we now use numpydoc strings.  Any touched code should
-   be updated to use the docstrings formatting. See :ref:`docstrings`.
-
-#. **Include code examples inside the docstrings where appropriate**.  See
-   :ref:`contributing.documentation.testing`.
-
-#. **Check the documentation builds without warnings or errors**.  See
-   :ref:`contributing.documentation.building`
-
-#. **Check for any new dependencies in the** `readthedocs.yml`_ **file**.  This
-   file is used to build the documentation that is served from
-   https://scitools-iris.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
-
-#. **Check for updates needed for supporting projects for test or example
-   data**.  For example:
-
-   * `iris-test-data`_ is a github project containing all the data to support
-     the tests.
-   * `iris-sample-data`_ is a github project containing all the data to support
-     the gallery and examples.
-
-   If new files are required by tests or code examples, they must be added to
-   the appropriate supporting project via a suitable pull-request.  This pull
-   request should be referenced in the main Iris pull request and must be
-   accepted and merged before the Iris one can be.
+.. _GitHub pull request template: https://github.com/SciTools/iris/blob/main/.github/pull_request_template.md
diff --git a/docs/src/developers_guide/documenting/whats_new_contributions.rst b/docs/src/developers_guide/documenting/whats_new_contributions.rst
diff --git a/docs/src/whatsnew/latest.rst b/docs/src/whatsnew/latest.rst
