---
title: "Auto Optimize Pull Requests"
description: "Automatically optimize new code in pull requests with Codeflash GitHub Actions workflow"
icon: "github"
---


Optimizing new code in Pull Requests is the best way to ensure that all code you and your team ship is always performant.
Automating optimization in the Pull Request stage is how most teams use Codeflash, to
continuously find optimizations for their new code.

To scan new code for performance optimizations, Codeflash uses a GitHub Action workflow which runs
the Codeflash optimization logic on the new code in every pull request.
If the action workflow finds an optimization, it communicates with the Codeflash GitHub 
App and asks it to suggest new changes to the pull request.

We highly recommend setting this up, since once you set it up all your new code gets optimized.

## Pull Request Optimization 30 seconds demo
<iframe width="640" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nqa-uewizkU?si=H1wb1RvPp-JqvKPh" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

## Prerequisites

<Warning>
**Before you begin, make sure you have:**

✅ A Codeflash API key from the [Codeflash Web App](https://app.codeflash.ai/)

✅ Completed local installation with `codeflash init` ([Python](/getting-started/local-installation) or [JavaScript/TypeScript](/getting-started/javascript-installation))

✅ A configured project (`pyproject.toml` for Python, `package.json` for JavaScript/TypeScript)
</Warning>

## Setup Options

<Tabs>
<Tab title="Automated Setup (Recommended)">
<Steps>
<Step title="Run the Setup Command">
```bash
codeflash init-actions
```
This command will automatically create the GitHub Actions workflow file and guide you through the setup process.

Alternatively running `codeflash init` also asks to setup the github actions.
</Step>

<Step title="Customize and Test Your Setup">
Open a new pull request to your GitHub project. You'll see:
- ✅ A new Codeflash workflow running in GitHub Actions
- 🤖 The codeflash-ai bot commenting with optimization suggestions (if any are found)

Ensure that your Python environment installation works correctly and codeflash is able to run.
</Step>
</Steps>
</Tab>

<Tab title="Manual Setup">

<Steps>
<Step title="Create Workflow File">
Create `.github/workflows/codeflash-optimize.yaml` in your repository:


```yaml title=".github/workflows/codeflash-optimize.yaml"
name: Codeflash

on:
  pull_request:
    paths:
      - '**'  # Modify this to the path of your project in a mono-repo. Codeflash will only run when code in this directory is modified.
  workflow_dispatch:

concurrency:
  # Any new push to the PR will cancel the previous run, so that only the latest code is optimized
  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
  cancel-in-progress: true

jobs:
  optimize:
    name: Optimize new code in this PR
    if: ${{ github.actor != 'codeflash-ai[bot]' }}
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    env:
      CODEFLASH_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.CODEFLASH_API_KEY }}
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
        with:
          fetch-depth: 0
          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
      # TODO: Replace the following with your project's Python installation method
      - name: Set up Python
        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
        with:
          python-version: '3.11'
      # TODO: Replace the following with your project's dependency installation method
      - name: Install Project Dependencies
        run: |
          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
        # TODO: Replace the following with your project setup method
          pip install -r requirements.txt
          pip install codeflash
      - name: Run Codeflash to optimize code
        id: optimize_code
        run: |
          codeflash
```

<Warning>
**Replace the TODOs** in the workflow file above with your project's specific setup commands.
</Warning>
  Set the `working-directory` parameter in the yaml file, if the commands are meant to be run from some other directory.
</Step>

<Step title="Choose Your Package Manager">
Customize the dependency installation based on your package manager:

The workflow will need to be set up in such a way the Codeflash can create and
run tests for functionality and speed, so the stock YAML may need to be altered to
suit the specific codebase. Typically the setup steps for a unit test workflow can
be copied.

<CodeGroup>
```yaml Poetry (Python)
- name: Install Project Dependencies
  run: |
    python -m pip install --upgrade pip
    pip install poetry
    poetry install --with dev
- name: Run Codeflash to optimize code
  run: |
    poetry env use python
    poetry run codeflash
```

```yaml uv (Python)
- uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v6
  with:
    enable-cache: true
- run: uv sync --group=dev
- name: Run Codeflash to optimize code
  run: uv run codeflash
```

```yaml pip (Python)
- name: Install Project Dependencies
  run: |
    python -m pip install --upgrade pip
    pip install -r requirements.txt
    pip install codeflash
- name: Run Codeflash to optimize code
  run: codeflash
```

```yaml npm (JavaScript/TypeScript)
- uses: actions/setup-node@v4
  with:
    node-version: '18'
- name: Install Project Dependencies
  run: npm ci
- name: Run Codeflash to optimize code
  run: npx codeflash
```

```yaml yarn (JavaScript/TypeScript)
- uses: actions/setup-node@v4
  with:
    node-version: '18'
- name: Install Project Dependencies
  run: yarn install --immutable
- name: Run Codeflash to optimize code
  run: yarn codeflash
```

```yaml pnpm (JavaScript/TypeScript)
- uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
  with:
    version: 9
- uses: actions/setup-node@v4
  with:
    node-version: '18'
    cache: 'pnpm'
- name: Install Project Dependencies
  run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
- name: Run Codeflash to optimize code
  run: pnpm codeflash
```
</CodeGroup>

<Info>
**Monorepo?** If your codeflash config is in a subdirectory, add `working-directory` to the steps:
```yaml
- name: Run Codeflash to optimize code
  run: npx codeflash
  working-directory: packages/my-library
```
</Info>
</Step>

<Step title="Add Repository Secret">
1. Go to your GitHub repository settings
2. Navigate to **Secrets and Variables** → **Actions**
3. Click **New repository secret**
4. Add:
   - **Name**: `CODEFLASH_API_KEY`
   - **Value**: Your API key from [app.codeflash.ai/app/apikeys](https://app.codeflash.ai/app/apikeys)

<Tip>
**Security Note**: Never commit your API key directly to your code. Always use GitHub repository secrets.
</Tip>
</Step>
</Steps>
</Tab>
</Tabs>
## How the Pull Request Optimization Suggestion looks

Codeflash creates a new dependent Pull Request for you to review with the reported speedups, helpful explanation for the optimization
and the proof of correctness. The pull request has the code change for you to review and accept.

![Codeflash PR Review](/images/codeflash_pr_suggestion_1.png)


Sometimes it also makes an inline suggestion with the optimization.

![Codeflash PR Suggestion](/images/code-suggestion.png)

We hope you enjoy the performance unlock the Pull Request optimization enables.