Github feature pull request

Github "feature pull" request or "idea pull" request

Sometimes, we solve problems or create features that have already been fully implemented in similar software. Why reinvent the wheel? Well, maybe there is a good reason, but we should at least know that we're doing that.

Example:
edX platform has forums, but the featureset leaves something to be desired. Other open-source projects have (or are) forums that already have these features. How should we model a feature request for edX platform to add these features?

Opportunities:
Point to a branch or a commit in another github project that implements the feature or idea you care about in that project.

Problems:
Often different languages
Remote repo's solution could be terrible implementation of good idea
What's the benefit over a feature request in the issue tracker with a hyperlink to the github URL showing where the other project implemented this feature?