pull_request_instructions.md

Here are detailed steps for retrieving content from GitHub and making a pull request to submit new content (such as an exercise).

It looks complicated, and there are a few places where the details matter. But once you do it several times it will feel more natural.

These instructions assume that you have already made a GitHub account and installed GitHub Desktop on your computer.

Part 0: Fork the course repo at GitHub.com (only the first time)

0. Fork the ncsg/ursp688y_sp2025 repo to your own account at GitHub.com.

Part 1: Clone your fork in GitHub Desktop (only the first time)

1. Go to File -> Clone Repository
2. Click on your fork of the repository in the GitHub.com list (yourname/ursp688y_sp2025)
3. Select "To contribute to the parent project" in the dialog about you're planning to use this fork.

Part 2: Fetch, edit, commit, and push your fork

4. GitHub Desktop: In your cloned fork, fetch from the origin (Fetch origin) to ensure your version is up-to-date
5. JupyterLab: Write code, add data, etc. (see JupyterLabInstructions.md for more details)
6. GitHub Desktop: Commit each major change
7. GitHub Desktop: Periodically push to the origin (Push origin)
8. Rinse and repeat...

Part 3: Make a pull request to the course repo

9. In your fork on the GitHub website, navigate to the root directory
10. Sync fork to make sure your new additions are the only differences between your fork and the course repo.
    • If prompted, DON'T click the red Discard commits button to delete the file you just added; click the green Update branch button to sync everything else that might have changed.
11. Contribute (to the left of Sync Fork), and Open pull request.
12. Add a short but meaningful title for your pull request (e.g., submitting exercise 1).
13. (optional) Add a description if there's something additional you'd like me (and others) to know about your submission.
14. Click Create pull request at the bottom.

🙌 Congrats!