Merging Pull Requests

Note: If you installed the GitHub integration before 19th July 2025, we request that you reinstall the integration to get the best experience.

The new merge panel gives you full control of the process, including editing commit messages, picking merge strategies (like squash, rebase, or merge), and managing approvals—all without ever leaving Cosine.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Open the Pull Request Panel

• Go to your Task: Open any task that is linked to a GitHub repository and has an active pull request.

• Open the “PR” panel: The panel will show a full overview of the current PR, including checks, approval status, description, code changes, and a “Merge PR” button.

Note: If the task isn’t connected to a GitHub repo or doesn’t have a PR, you’ll see a helpful message explaining why the merge panel isn’t available.

2. Review PR Status and Details

• At a glance, you’ll see:

  • Task status (e.g. ready, in progress, success)

  • CI checks (pass/fail/waiting)

  • Approval status (review requirements, any requested changes)

  • PR title (editable)

  • Description (editable)

  • Number of changed files, additions, deletions - click through to see the changes

• Tabs let you switch between an overview, all comments and review threads, and a complete list of commits.

Edit Title: Click on the title to make edits, when you click away Cosine will update the PR on GitHub.

Edit Description: Just type in the new description and click “Save.” Genie will update the PR on GitHub. "Reset" will revert the description back to what it currently is on GitHub, "Clear" will remove the description so you can write something new from scratch.

3. Check comments left on the PR

• You can see global PR comments as well as unresolved review threads, including replies, from the "Comments" tab.

• You can respond to and resolve unresolved threads directly from the Comments tab.

• Everything will stay in sync with Github - if someone leaves you a comment it will appear on the Comments tab instantly, and your replies are instantly posted to the PR.

4. Check your commits

• For a detailed look at how the PR was built up, have a look at the "Commits" tab.

• From here you can see an overview of each commit, and click through to each them in detail on GitHub.

5. Click “Merge PR”

• Click the Merge PR button to begin. If the PR is already closed or merged, you’ll see its status.

• You’ll get a confirmation panel with several important options.

6. Choose Merge Strategy and Commit Message

• Pick a Merge Strategy: Genie will show the available strategies for this repository (e.g. Merge, Squash, or Rebase).

  • Use tabs to pick your desired method.

  • Not all repos allow every method; Genie only shows what’s enabled from your GitHub settings.

• Set Commit Message: For “merge” and “squash” strategies, you can edit the final commit message before merging.

Warning: If your task is not in the “success” state (e.g. CI checks failed), Genie will warn you before letting you proceed. Merging is possible, but not recommended.

7. Confirm the Merge

• Click Confirm Merge to complete the process.

• Genie will merge the PR via GitHub’s API and show a success or error toast.

• If you run into errors, Cosine will display them in the panel for quick troubleshooting.

8. After the Merge

• The PR panel will update to show the new status (“MERGED”).

• All comments, threads, and commit history remain available for reference.

FAQ & Troubleshooting

• Can I change the PR title/description before merging? Yes! Edit either field and click “Save” or make changes as part of the merge flow—Cosine syncs updates to GitHub.

• Why can’t I see certain merge methods? Only strategies enabled for your repo (configured in GitHub) will appear.

• What if CI checks or approvals are missing? Cosine warns you but doesn’t block you from trying the merge. Always check your repo’s rules, if your GitHub settings allow you to merge without CI passing/without approvals/without all threads being resolved, then we won't stop you!

• What if the merge fails? Cosine shows detailed error messages if GitHub returns any issues (e.g. conflicts, branch protection, permission errors).

Support

For more help, contact the Genie support team or check with your GitHub administrator if you’re blocked by repo settings.