---

kind: change

title: User Agent now mandatory

created_at: 2013-04-24

author_name: pengwynn

---

After an almost six week grace period, we're now enforcing the [User Agent

header][1] for all API requests. Most HTTP libraries (including cURL)

set this header by default. If you're experiencing an increase in `403`

responses, be sure and check your code.

[1]: /v3/#user-agent-required

If you have any questions or feedback, please drop us a line at

[support@github.com](mailto:support@github.com?subject=User Agent Requirement).

---

kind: change

title: Deprecating a Confusing Attribute in the Pull Request API

created_at: 2013-04-25

author_name: jasonrudolph

---

When you get the details for a Pull Request from the API, the

[response](/v3/pulls/#get-a-single-pull-request) provides everything there is to

know about that Pull Request. In addition to the useful information provided in

the API response, the JSON also includes the `merge_commit_sha` attribute. This

attribute is a frequent source of misunderstanding, and we aim to remove the

confusion.

To help current API consumers, we've [documented the

attribute](/v3/pulls/#mergability) for improved understanding.

To protect future API consumers from this confusion, we have

[deprecated](/#expected-changes) the `merge_commit_sha` attribute, and we will

remove it in the next major version of the API.

As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please drop us a line at

[support@github.com](mailto:support@github.com?subject=Deprecating merge_commit_sha).

*`[ ]``master_branch` becomes`default_branch`.

*`[ ]``integrate_branch` on the[repo API](/v3/repos/#get) will no longer be

returned.

*`[ ]``merge_commit_sha` on the[pull request API](/v3/pulls/#get-a-single-pull-request)

will no longer be returned.

*`[ ]` Use the`private` attribute when creating a private repository,

instead of setting`public` to false.

*`[ ]` Use JSON to POST to the "repos/:owner/:repo/forks" endpoint, instead of a query string.

<%= headers 200 %>

<%= json:full_pull %>

Each time the pull request receives new commits, GitHub creates a merge commit

to_test_ whether the pull request can be automatically merged into the base

branch. (This_test_ commit is not added to the base branch or the head branch.)

The`merge_commit_sha` attribute holds the SHA of the_test_ merge commit;

however, this attribute is[deprecated](/#expected-changes) and is scheduled for

removal in the next version of the API. The Boolean`mergable` attribute will

remain to indicate whether the pull request can be automatically merged.

Pass the appropriate[media type](/v3/media/#commits-commit-comparison-and-pull-requests) to fetch diff and patch formats.

<%= headers 200 %>

<%= json:hook %>

This will trigger the hook with the latest push to the current

repository.

repository if the hook is subscribed to`push` events. If the

hook is not subscribed to`push` events, the server will respond

with 204 but no test POST will be generated.