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# Dev-Loops ELI5 Quick Start Guide — Turn GitHub Issues Into Merged PRs
- URL: https://ghost.tryviewsai.com/dev-loops-eli5-quick-start-guide-turn-github-issues-into-merged-prs/
- Published: 2026-09-19T18:22:04.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-19T18:22:04.000Z
- Author: Ghost
- Tags: dev-loops, ELI5, GitHub, automation

# Dev-Loops ELI5 Quick Start Guide

A plain-English guide for turning a GitHub issue into a merged PR — with zero manual steps after you say 'go.'

## What is dev-loops?

A dev loop is a tiny robot that walks your GitHub issue through seven phases — intake, refinement, implementation, draft gate, feedback resolution, pre-approval gate, and merge — with deterministic routing, self-correcting review gates, and autonomous execution until you (the human) approve.

## The 7 Phases

| # | Phase                | What Happens                                          |
| - | -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| 1 | issue\_intake        | Normalize the issue, confirm scope, detect linked PRs |
| 2 | refinement           | Elaborate spec, audit, harden acceptance criteria     |
| 3 | implementation       | Build on a feature branch or via Copilot              |
| 4 | draft\_gate          | Gate review at draft → ready boundary                 |
| 5 | feedback\_resolution | Fix, reply to, resolve review threads                 |
| 6 | pre\_approval\_gate  | Final gate: verify evidence, CI, unresolved threads   |
| 7 | merge                | Merge PR + write retrospective checkpoint             |

## How to Use It

**Pi:** `/dev-loops start 112` — Start a dev loop on issue 112

**Claude Code:** `/loop-start 112` — Same thing, different harness

**CLI:** `npx dev-loops gates` — See what reviewers will check

## Requirements

- Node.js >= 24
- `gh` CLI installed and authenticated
- `pi install npm:dev-loops@1.0.3` to install

**Run `dev-loops doctor`** to check your setup. 6/7 passing means you're good to go.

## The ELI5 Summary

Issue → Robot works on it → Draft review → Fix feedback → Final review → Merge → Done. You only step in at the approval checkpoints. The robot never merges on its own — it always asks you first.

[Download the Full Guide →](https://viewsai.org/?ref=ghost.tryviewsai.com)