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As of Tuesday, May 27, 2025, GitHub will retire the Dependabot reviewers configuration option, streamlining its pull request reviewer assignment process. This move aims to reduce conflicts and improve overall reliability by consolidating functionality with GitHub’s existing Code Owners feature. While this change might initially raise concerns for some developers, it promises a more efficient and simplified configuration moving forward. Here’s a breakdown of the key points, what it means for your workflow, and how to set up a CODEOWNERS file to ensure smoother collaboration.
Key Points:
GitHub has announced the removal of the dependabot.yml configuration option, which had previously been used to define reviewers for Dependabot-generated pull requests. This change is set to take place on May 27, 2025. The reason for this change is that the dependabot.yml functionality overlaps with GitHub’s Code Owners feature, which already serves to manage code review assignments and has been causing issues in some cases.
The new approach emphasizes the use of the CODEOWNERS file to manage review assignments, ensuring that individuals or teams responsible for specific sections of the codebase are automatically assigned as reviewers. This adjustment is designed to eliminate redundant configuration, making the process of assigning pull request reviewers more streamlined and reliable.
Moving forward, GitHub recommends that all users adopt the CODEOWNERS file, as it integrates seamlessly with GitHubâs platform, offering a native solution to the reviewer assignment problem. By centralizing the configuration into one file, GitHub aims to provide developers with a more consistent and simpler workflow when managing pull request reviews.
To begin using the CODEOWNERS feature, developers will need to create and configure a CODEOWNERS file within their repository. This file can be customized to include the specific users or teams responsible for particular areas of the code. GitHub offers straightforward instructions on how to set up this file, ensuring that developers can quickly transition to the new system.
What Undercode Says:
Undercode believes that this move by GitHub reflects a broader trend in software development toward reducing complexity and redundancy in configuration. The removal of the dependabot.yml file is not just a minor update; it represents a shift toward more consistent and standardized practices within GitHub repositories. By focusing solely on the CODEOWNERS file, GitHub is aligning all review assignment functionality under one unified system, which should lead to fewer errors, reduced friction during development, and an overall smoother workflow for teams.
This shift also highlights GitHub’s continuous efforts to refine its user experience and prioritize essential features. For instance, with Code Owners already established as a widely used method for managing pull request reviewers, integrating this functionality with Dependabot assignments only makes sense. It eliminates the redundancy of having multiple methods for the same purpose and makes the developer’s job easier by reducing the number of configuration files needed to manage codebase maintenance.
From a practical standpoint, this update also removes one potential point of failure. Previously, developers may have encountered situations where the dependabot.yml file was improperly configured, leading to reviewers not being assigned correctly or creating unnecessary confusion. Now, by relying exclusively on the CODEOWNERS file, this kind of issue should become much less common, allowing for faster resolution times and improved team coordination.
For organizations that have already adopted the CODEOWNERS feature, the transition will likely be seamless. The consolidation of reviewer configuration into one file will eliminate the need for developers to keep track of multiple configurations and should ultimately save time in the long run. On the other hand, for teams that have not yet embraced CODEOWNERS, this change provides a compelling incentive to adopt it, ensuring they stay in line with GitHubâs most efficient workflows.
Additionally, the move may spark wider discussions about codebase automation and best practices for managing pull requests. With GitHubâs ever-evolving set of features, developers will need to stay up-to-date on platform changes to maximize their productivity and ensure they are using the most effective tools available.
In conclusion,
Fact Checker Results:
- GitHubâs Code Owners feature has been a widely adopted method for managing reviewer assignments for some time now, and itâs clear that removing redundant configurations helps eliminate unnecessary complexity.
- The removal of the
dependabot.ymlconfiguration option will not cause significant disruption for developers already using Code Owners. - This update is consistent with GitHubâs ongoing efforts to refine and simplify the developer experience.
References:
Reported By: github.blog
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