bobmatnyc/requesting-code-review

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

Quick Start

1. Get git SHAs:

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 Template

Required 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:

| Severity | Action | |----------|--------| | Critical | Fix immediately, don't proceed | | Important | Fix before next major task | | Minor | Note for later, can proceed |

See severity guidelines for details.

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

Pushing Back on Reviews

If reviewer wrong:

• Push back with technical reasoning
• Show code/tests that prove it works
• Reference plan requirements
• Request clarification

See pushing back examples

Common Mistakes

Never:

• Skip review because "it's simple"
• Ignore Critical issues
• Proceed with unfixed Important issues
• Argue without technical justification

Always:

• Provide full context in review request
• Fix Critical issues immediately
• Document disagreements with technical justification
• Re-review after fixing Critical issues

Examples

Need examples? See Review Examples & Workflows for:

• Complete review output examples
• Good vs bad review requests
• Review workflows for different scenarios
• How to act on different severity levels
• When and how to push back

Need template? See Code Reviewer Template for the complete subagent dispatch template.