Why small pull request policies can backfire on software quality

Summary

The article critiques a common software engineering policy that limits pull requests (PRs) to small sizes (e.g., 500 lines, few files). While these policies aim to improve reviewability and quality, the author argues they can be counterproductive. Splitting large features into many tiny PRs often breaks logical coherence, makes it harder to understand the full picture, increases overhead, and can lead to integration issues. The author suggests that the software industry is "annealing" (improving through process) but in the wrong direction—prioritizing process metrics over actual software quality and developer productivity.