Requesting Code Review

Dispatch code-reviewer subagent to review implementation against plan or requirements before proceeding

40 stars

Best use case

Requesting Code Review is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.

Dispatch code-reviewer subagent to review implementation against plan or requirements before proceeding

Teams using Requesting Code Review should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.

When to use this skill

  • You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.

When not to use this skill

  • You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
  • You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.

Installation

Claude Code / Cursor / Codex

$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/requesting-code-review/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/obra/clank/main/skills/collaboration/requesting-code-review/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

  1. Download SKILL.md from GitHub
  2. Place it in .claude/skills/requesting-code-review/SKILL.md inside your project
  3. Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill

How Requesting Code Review Compares

Feature / AgentRequesting Code ReviewStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

Dispatch code-reviewer subagent to review implementation against plan or requirements before proceeding

Where can I find the source code?

You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.

Related Guides

SKILL.md Source

# Requesting Code Review

Dispatch code-reviewer subagent to catch issues before they cascade.

**Core principle:** Review early, review often.

## When to Request Review

**Mandatory:**
- After each task in subagent-driven development
- After completing major feature
- Before merge to main

**Optional but valuable:**
- When stuck (fresh perspective)
- Before refactoring (baseline check)
- After fixing complex bug

## How to Request

**1. Get git SHAs:**
```bash
BASE_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD~1)  # or origin/main
HEAD_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
```

**2. Dispatch code-reviewer subagent:**

Use Task tool with code-reviewer type, fill template at `code-reviewer.md`

**Placeholders:**
- `{WHAT_WAS_IMPLEMENTED}` - What you just built
- `{PLAN_OR_REQUIREMENTS}` - What it should do
- `{BASE_SHA}` - Starting commit
- `{HEAD_SHA}` - Ending commit
- `{DESCRIPTION}` - Brief summary

**3. Act on feedback:**
- Fix Critical issues immediately
- Fix Important issues before proceeding
- Note Minor issues for later
- Push back if reviewer is wrong (with reasoning)

## Example

```
[Just completed Task 2: Add verification function]

You: Let me request code review before proceeding.

BASE_SHA=$(git log --oneline | grep "Task 1" | head -1 | awk '{print $1}')
HEAD_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD)

[Dispatch code-reviewer subagent]
  WHAT_WAS_IMPLEMENTED: Verification and repair functions for conversation index
  PLAN_OR_REQUIREMENTS: Task 2 from docs/plans/deployment-plan.md
  BASE_SHA: a7981ec
  HEAD_SHA: 3df7661
  DESCRIPTION: Added verifyIndex() and repairIndex() with 4 issue types

[Subagent returns]:
  Strengths: Clean architecture, real tests
  Issues:
    Important: Missing progress indicators
    Minor: Magic number (100) for reporting interval
  Assessment: Ready to proceed

You: [Fix progress indicators]
[Continue to Task 3]
```

## Integration with Workflows

**Subagent-Driven Development:**
- Review after EACH task
- Catch issues before they compound
- Fix before moving to next task

**Executing Plans:**
- Review after each batch (3 tasks)
- Get feedback, apply, continue

**Ad-Hoc Development:**
- Review before merge
- Review when stuck

## Red Flags

**Never:**
- Skip review because "it's simple"
- Ignore Critical issues
- Proceed with unfixed Important issues
- Argue with valid technical feedback

**If reviewer wrong:**
- Push back with technical reasoning
- Show code/tests that prove it works
- Request clarification

See template at: skills/collaboration/requesting-code-review/code-reviewer.md

Related Skills

Code Review Reception

40
from obra/clank

Receive and act on code review feedback with technical rigor, not performative agreement or blind implementation

Testing Anti-Patterns

40
from obra/clank

Never test mock behavior. Never add test-only methods to production classes. Understand dependencies before mocking.

Test-Driven Development (TDD)

40
from obra/clank

Write the test first, watch it fail, write minimal code to pass

Condition-Based Waiting

40
from obra/clank

Replace arbitrary timeouts with condition polling for reliable async tests

Testing Skills With Subagents

40
from obra/clank

RED-GREEN-REFACTOR for process documentation - baseline without skill, write addressing failures, iterate closing loopholes

Installing Skills System

40
from obra/clank

Fork, clone to ~/.clank, run installer, edit CLAUDE.md

Gardening Skills Wiki

40
from obra/clank

Maintain skills wiki health - check links, naming, cross-references, and coverage

Creating Skills

40
from obra/clank

TDD for process documentation - test with subagents before writing, iterate until bulletproof

Getting Started with Skills

40
from obra/clank

Skills wiki intro - mandatory workflows, search tool, brainstorming triggers

Verification Before Completion

40
from obra/clank

Run verification commands and confirm output before claiming success

Systematic Debugging

40
from obra/clank

Four-phase debugging framework that ensures root cause investigation before attempting fixes. Never jump to solutions.

Root Cause Tracing

40
from obra/clank

Systematically trace bugs backward through call stack to find original trigger