Say it like this
- This is still WIP, don't merge yet
- Let me mark this as WIP for now
- We have too much WIP in the pipeline
Use it at work
Status
- This PR is WIP. Don't review yet.
- Mark the PR as WIP in the title.
Kanban
- Let's set a WIP limit of three.
- We have too much WIP. Let's finish things first.
Sharing early
- Here's a WIP version of the deck.
- It's WIP, but I'd love early feedback.
Don't say this
WIP means incomplete, so you cannot ship or release something that is WIP. You must finish it first.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| WIP | Work in progress, not finished | Anyone | Drafts, PRs |
| draft PR | PR not ready for review | Developers | GitHub |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your team member just opened a pull request with unfinished work. What is the most natural way to respond?
2. Please do not review this PR yet. I marked it as _______ because I am still making changes.
3. Which sentence uses WIP incorrectly?
4. Rewrite this in natural tech English using WIP: 'The authentication system is not finished yet, so we should not let people use it.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"This is still WIP, don't merge yet"
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More about WIP
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"I have the authentication feature as WIP and should have it ready for review by tomorrow."
- in a pull request
"I'm opening this as a WIP PR so you can give me feedback on my approach before I finish the implementation."
- in a team meeting
"Our WIP limit is 8 items per developer, so we need to finish some tasks before starting new ones."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. WIP is sometimes confused with MVP (Minimum Viable Product). WIP refers to something currently being worked on, while MVP is a complete product with minimal features.
- ✕The WIP is completed and ready to merge.✓The code is completed and ready to merge, so we can remove the WIP tag.
Once something is finished, it is no longer WIP. You remove the WIP status when work is complete.
- ✕We released a WIP version to customers.✓We released a production version to customers; the WIP is still in development.
WIP code should never reach customers. Only finished, tested code goes to production.
Other forms(3)
- WIP abbreviation
"This feature is WIP and will be ready next sprint."
- WIP (as a noun phrase) noun
"We need to reduce our WIP to improve team velocity."
- WIP (used as adjective) adjective
"The WIP pull request needs more testing before it can be merged."
Often used with(5)
- mark as WIP · To indicate that something is not finished; used in pull requests and task tracking
- WIP limit · Maximum number of tasks a team member or team should work on at the same time
- WIP PR (pull request) · A pull request that is still being developed and not ready for review or merging
- remove WIP · To take off the WIP status once work is complete and ready for next steps
- WIP pipeline · The collection of all work in progress across a team or project
Similar words(3)
- in progress · More formal and descriptive; means the same thing but is longer and less commonly used in tech slang
- draft · Often used for documents or designs; implies something preliminary but not as commonly used in code development
- under development · More formal and general; less specific than WIP in technical contexts
Opposites(5)
- completed
- shipped
- released
- production-ready
- finished
Questions(5)
- What does WIP stand for?
- WIP stands for Work In Progress. It indicates that a task, code change, or project is currently being worked on but is not yet finished or ready for production use.
- How do you use WIP in a pull request?
- You can add WIP to the title of your pull request (for example, WIP: Add payment integration) or use the WIP feature in platforms like GitHub to indicate that your code is still being developed and should not be merged yet. This prevents accidental merging and lets reviewers know that more changes are coming.
- What is a WIP limit and why is it important?
- A WIP limit is the maximum number of tasks or items a person or team works on at the same time. Limiting WIP helps teams focus better, reduce context switching, and complete work faster. For example, if your WIP limit is 5, you should not start a new task until you have finished one of your current tasks.
- Is WIP formal or informal?
- WIP is casual and informal. It is used in everyday workplace communication, pull requests, and team conversations. While it is widely accepted in professional tech settings, it is less formal than saying in progress or under development.
- What is the difference between WIP and MVP?
- WIP (Work In Progress) is something that is incomplete and still being worked on. MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is a finished product with the fewest features needed to satisfy customers and gather feedback. An MVP is complete; WIP is not.
