| name | Conducting Code Review |
| description | Complete workflow for conducting thorough code reviews with structured feedback |
| when_to_use | when conducting code review, when another agent asks you to review code, after being dispatched by requesting-code-review skill |
| version | 3.1.0 |
Conducting Code Review
Overview
Systematic code review process ensuring correctness, security, and maintainability through practice adherence and structured feedback. Tests and checks are assumed to pass - reviewer focuses on code quality.
Quick Reference
Before starting:
- Read upstream skill:
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}skills/requesting-code-review/SKILL.md - Read project practices:
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}standards/code-review.md
Core workflow:
- Review most recent commit(s)
- Review against practice standards (all severity levels)
- Save structured feedback to work directory
Note: Tests and checks are assumed to pass. Focus on code quality review.
Implementation
Prerequisites
Read these before conducting review:
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}skills/requesting-code-review/SKILL.md- Understand requester expectations${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}standards/code-review.md- Standards, severity levels, project commands
Step-by-Step Workflow
1. Identify code to review
Determine scope:
- Most recent commit:
git log -1 --stat - Recent commits on branch:
git log origin/main..HEAD - Full diff:
git diff origin/main...HEAD
2. Review code against standards
Read standards from practices:
# Standards live in practices, not in this skill
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}standards/code-review.md
Review ALL severity levels:
- BLOCKING (Must Fix Before Merge) - from practices
- NON-BLOCKING (Can Be Deferred) - from practices
Empty sections are GOOD if you actually checked. Missing sections mean you didn't check.
3. Save structured review - ALGORITHMIC ENFORCEMENT
Template location:
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}templates/code-review-template.md
Template Validation Algorithm
1. Check Status section exists
Does your review have ## Status: [BLOCKED | APPROVED WITH NON-BLOCKING SUGGESTIONS | APPROVED]?
- NO → STOP. Delete draft. Start over with template.
- YES → CONTINUE
2. Check Next Steps section exists
Does your review have ## Next Steps?
- NO → STOP. Delete draft. Start over with template.
- YES → CONTINUE
3. Check BLOCKING section exists
Does your review have ## BLOCKING (Must Fix Before Merge)?
- NO → STOP. Delete draft. Start over with template.
- YES → CONTINUE
4. Check NON-BLOCKING section exists
Does your review have ## NON-BLOCKING (May Be Deferred)?
- NO → STOP. Delete draft. Start over with template.
- YES → CONTINUE
5. Check Checklist section exists
Does your review have ## Checklist with all 6 categories?
- NO → STOP. Delete draft. Start over with template.
- YES → CONTINUE
6. Check for prohibited custom sections
Have you added ANY sections not listed above (examples of PROHIBITED sections: Strengths, Code Quality Metrics, Assessment, Recommendations, Requirements Verification, Comparison to Previous Reviews, Reviewer Notes, Sign-Off, Review Summary, Issues with subsections, Test Results, Check Results)?
- YES → STOP. Delete custom sections. Use template exactly.
- NO → CONTINUE
7. Save review file
All required sections present, no custom sections → Save to work directory.
File naming: See ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}standards/code-review.md for .work directory location and naming convention ({YYYY-MM-DD}-review-{N}.md).
Additional context allowed: You may add supplementary details AFTER the Checklist section (verification commands run, files changed, commit hashes). But the 5 required sections above are mandatory and must appear first in the exact order shown.
What NOT to Skip
NEVER skip:
- Reviewing ALL severity levels (not just critical)
- Saving review file to work directory
- Including positive observations
Common rationalizations that violate workflow:
- "Code looks clean" → Check all severity levels anyway
- "Simple change" → Thorough review prevents production bugs
- "Senior developer" → Review objectively regardless of author
- "Template is too simple, adding sections" → Step 3 algorithm checks for custom sections. STOP if they exist.
- "My format is more thorough" → Thoroughness goes IN the template sections. Algorithm enforces exact structure.
- "Adding Strengths section helps" → PROHIBITED. Algorithm Step 6 blocks this.
- "Assessment section adds value" → PROHIBITED. Algorithm Step 6 blocks this.
- "Requirements Verification is useful" → Put in NON-BLOCKING or Checklist. Not a separate section.
Note: Tests and checks are assumed to pass. Reviewers focus on code quality, not test execution.
Related Skills
Requestion code review:
- Requesting Code Review:
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}skills/requesting-code-review/SKILL.md
When receiving feedback on your review:
- Code Review Reception:
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}skills/receiving-code-review/SKILL.md
Testing This Skill
See test-scenarios.md for pressure tests validating this workflow resists rationalization.