requesting-code-review
About
This skill dispatches a specialized code reviewer subagent to validate work before merging, ensuring requirements are met. It provides isolated review context without exposing session history and is triggered after tasks, major features, or pre-merge. Key features include mandatory checkpoints and git SHA-based change isolation for precise evaluations.
Quick Install
Claude Code
Recommendednpx skills add obra/superpowers -a claude-code/plugin add https://github.com/obra/superpowersgit clone https://github.com/obra/superpowers.git ~/.claude/skills/requesting-code-reviewCopy and paste this command in Claude Code to install this skill
Documentation
Requesting Code Review
Dispatch a code reviewer subagent to catch issues before they cascade. The reviewer gets precisely crafted context for evaluation — never your session's history.
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:
BASE_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD~1) # or: git merge-base origin/main HEAD
HEAD_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
2. Dispatch code reviewer subagent:
Dispatch a general-purpose subagent, filling the template at code-reviewer.md
Placeholders:
{DESCRIPTION}- Brief summary of what you built{PLAN_OR_REQUIREMENTS}- What it should do{BASE_SHA}- Starting commit{HEAD_SHA}- Ending commit
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=$(git log --oneline | grep "Task 1" | head -1 | cut -d' ' -f1)
HEAD_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
[Dispatch code reviewer subagent]
DESCRIPTION: Added verifyIndex() and repairIndex() with 4 issue types
PLAN_OR_REQUIREMENTS: Task 2 from docs/superpowers/plans/deployment-plan.md
BASE_SHA: a7981ec
HEAD_SHA: 3df7661
[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]
Common Rationalizations
| Excuse | Reality |
|---|---|
| "I'll just review the diff myself instead of dispatching a reviewer" | You're the coordinator — reviewing the diff inline burns the context window you need to keep driving the work. Dispatch a reviewer subagent: the diff and the evaluation live in its context, and only the findings come back to you. |
| "The reviewer needs my whole session history to understand the change" | Hand it precisely crafted context, never your session's history. That keeps the reviewer on the work product, not your thought process. |
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: code-reviewer.md
GitHub Repository
Frequently asked questions
What is the requesting-code-review skill?
requesting-code-review is a Claude Skill by obra. Skills package instructions and resources that Claude loads on demand, so Claude can perform requesting-code-review-related tasks without extra prompting.
How do I install requesting-code-review?
Use the install commands on this page: add requesting-code-review to Claude Code as a plugin, or clone its repository into your skills directory, then restart Claude so it picks up the skill.
What category does requesting-code-review belong to?
requesting-code-review is in the Design category, tagged design.
Is requesting-code-review free to use?
Yes. requesting-code-review is listed on AIMCP and free to install.
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