# How to try out any JabRef pull request

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-try-out-any-jabref-pull-request/5601>\
**Category:** Beta Testing\
**Created:** [June 4, 2025, 11:46am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-try-out-any-jabref-pull-request/5601 "2025-06-04T11:46:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![koppor](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/koppor/32/5_2.png) [@koppor](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/koppor)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 11:46am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-try-out-any-jabref-pull-request/5601/1 "2025-06-04T11:46:21Z")

</div>

JabRef gets many contributions by external contributors in the form of [pull requests](https://github.com/jabref/jabref/pulls). Want to try out the feature or fix?

You can do so in a few simple steps, and give early feedback!

## Quick way

In case you have a GitHub account, [GitHub CLI](https://github.com/cli/cli/), git, any Java JDK, installed - and any checkout of JabRef, you can do following:

1. Checkout PR: `gh pr checkout 13182`
2. Run GUI: `./gradlew :jabgui:run`

In case you don’t have these tools installed, here are some hints:

### Windows

1. According to [Microsoft’s information](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/package-manager/winget/#install-winget), winget should be available on your Windows.
2. Open administrative shell (cmd or Powershell)
3. Install GitHub CLI: `winget install --id=GitHub.cli -e`
4. Install git: `winget install --id=Git.Git -e`
5. Install JDK: `winget install --id=EclipseAdoptium.Temurin.21.JDK -e`
6. Close the shell
7. Open a shell as user
8. Login into GitHub: `gh auth login`
9. Clone JabRef following the hints at [our contribution guide](https://devdocs.jabref.org/getting-into-the-code/guidelines-for-setting-up-a-local-workspace/pre-03-code.html#clone-your-forked-repository-on-your-local-machine).

## Way without GitHub account

You can use our JBang-script to checkout:

1. In the source directory of JabRef: `jbang .jbang/CheckoutPR.java 13182`
2. Run GUI: `./gradlew :jabgui:run`

JBang installation instractions can be found at [https://www.jbang.dev/documentation/guide/latest/installation.html](https://www.jbang.dev/documentation/guide/latest/installation.html).

If you don’t have a JabRef checkout, clone JabRef following the hints at [our contribution guide](https://devdocs.jabref.org/getting-into-the-code/guidelines-for-setting-up-a-local-workspace/pre-03-code.html#clone-your-forked-repository-on-your-local-machine).

## Way without installing anything

If you don’t want to install anything, downloading a little helper script and executing some commands are enough. We posted a guide at [How to try out any JabRef pull request | JabRef's Blog](https://blog.jabref.org/2025/05/31/run-pr/).