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Claiming Issues

To help avoid duplicate work, contributors can claim an issue before starting work on it.

Claim an issue​

If you'd like to work on an issue, leave the following comment:

Claim an issue
/take

The issue will automatically:

  • Add a taken label.
  • Display a banner showing who has claimed it.
  • Prevent other contributors from accidentally working on the same issue.
tip

Please only claim an issue if you intend to start working on it soon.

One issue at a time​

Please claim and hold only one issue at a time. Finish your current issue, or release it with /untake, before claiming another. This keeps issues open for other contributors.

Release an issue​

If you decide not to work on an issue anymore, comment:

Remove your claim on the issue
/untake

This removes your claim and makes the issue available for someone else.

Claim expiration​

Issue claims automatically expire after 21 days of inactivity.

When a claim expires:

  • the taken label is removed,
  • the issue becomes available again,
  • the claim banner is updated automatically.

If you're still actively working on an issue after several weeks, simply leave a comment on the issue so maintainers know it is still being worked on.

Commenting doesn't reset the timer

Note that commenting does not reset the 21-day timer; if your claim is about to expire, comment /untake followed by /take to re-claim it.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Can I work on an issue that is already claimed?​

It is generally discouraged. If you believe the claim has become inactive, leave a comment on the issue or contact a maintainer.

What if someone else has already opened a pull request?​

Only one solution for an issue is typically merged. If you open a pull request for an issue that someone else has claimed, you must collaborate with the claimant. A pull request for an already-claimed issue that is not made in collaboration with the claimant will be closed, as it does not follow our contribution rules. Checking whether an issue is already claimed or has an open pull request can save everyone time.

What happens if I forget to /untake an issue?​

Nothing permanent. Claims automatically expire after 21 days.