features

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You can now fork a repo and copy only the default branch

July 27, 2022

Previously, when creating a fork all branches from the parent repository were copied to the new fork repository. There are several scenarios where this is unneeded, such as contributing to open-source projects. When all branches are copied, it could result in slow repo cloning and unnecessary disk usage. With this new feature, only the default branch is copied; no other branches or tags. This may result in faster clones because only reachable objects will be pulled down.

New fork page with ability to copy only the default branch

If you want to copy additional branches from the parent repository, you can do so from the Branches page.

Markdown previews automatically scroll to your edit location

May 3, 2022

When editing a Markdown file through the web interface, selecting the Preview tab will now automatically scroll to the place in the preview that you were just editing. The scroll location is based on the position of your cursor before you selected the Preview tab.

Required Deployments

April 12, 2022

You can now require a successful deployment of a branch before its pull request can be merged. This is made possible by a new branch protection setting titled Require deployments to succeed before merging. To enable the setting, create a new branch protection rule for the target branch. Then, select the environments where deployments must succeed before a pull request can be merged, shown here:

This will allow you to ensure code is, for example, exercised in a staging or test environment before it's merged to your main branch.

Learn more about protected branches
Learn more about branch protection rules

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Delete a branch with an open pull request

April 12, 2022

Previously, GitHub's web UI did not allow deleting a branch that was associated with an open pull request. Now you can delete such a branch from the UI. However, doing so will close all open pull requests associated with the branch. Before the branch is deleted, you must confirm that the pull requests may be closed.

Confirm deleting a branch

You can now name your fork when creating it

April 12, 2022

Previously, when you forked a repository the fork name would default to the same name as the parent repository. In some cases, that wasn't ideal because you wanted the fork to have a different name. Your only option was to rename the fork after it was created. Now you can customize the fork name at the same time you're creating it.

New fork page