# Respond To Comment > Triage and respond to comments on a PR. Fix if actionable, reply either way. Load repo-setup first. - Skill: `getsentry/respond-to-comment` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add getsentry/respond-to-comment` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/getsentry/respond-to-comment/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - License: Apache-2.0 - Author: Sentry (https://skillmd.com/u/getsentry) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/getsentry/respond-to-comment --- # Respond to Comment Triage a comment on a PR the bot is involved in. Load `repo-setup` first. ## Addressing guard Before triaging, confirm the comment is actually for you: - If the comment author equals your identity (`$ME` — see agent identity setup), stop: `SKIPPED: own comment`. - If the body explicitly `@`-mentions a specific other user and does NOT `@`-mention `$ME`, the question is aimed at someone else — stop: `SKIPPED: directed at @`. Applies to inline and top-level comments alike. Exceptions (keep going): the comment also `@`-mentions `$ME`, it's a direct reply to one of your own comments, or it's a comment on a `jared`-labeled issue (the router resumes `resolve-issue` for those, so answers to your own questions are never dropped even if they `@`-mention a helper). - A comment with no `@`-mention of another user is not affected by this guard — proceed to triage as normal. ## Triage Default to **doing what the reviewer asked.** A concrete request on your own PR is an instruction to carry out, not a proposal to debate. - **Actionable**: any direct change request, real bug, missing test, or valid concern → fix it and push. - **Genuinely not actionable**: only when the request would clearly break something, contradict an explicit project rule, or is factually wrong. Reply with one short, specific reason; if the reviewer repeats the request, do it. - **Approval thumbs-up** (short body, no code refs): don't reply, stop ## Don't push back — do the work - Never argue the same point twice. A restated request is a cue to act, not to re-explain the original choice. - Do not declare a requested change out of scope when the reviewer has explicitly expanded the scope. Investigate and implement the smallest safe path. - Before responding to review feedback, enumerate unresolved review threads and work through each one. Do not leave a thread unresolved without either a pushed fix or a one-line reason and a human owner. ```sh gh api graphql --paginate -f query='query($o:String!,$r:String!,$n:Int!,$endCursor:String){repository(owner:$o,name:$r){pullRequest(number:$n){reviewThreads(first:100,after:$endCursor){nodes{isResolved path comments(first:1){nodes{databaseId author{login} body}}}pageInfo{hasNextPage endCursor}}}}}' \ -f o= -f r= -F n= \ --jq '.data.repository.pullRequest.reviewThreads.nodes[] | select(.isResolved==false) | {path,body:.comments.nodes[0].body[0:80]}' ``` ## Workflow 1. Check PR authorship — only push to your own PR's branch. 2. If actionable on your own PR: implement the fix, load `deslop`, commit, and push. Verify the remote branch contains the same commit before replying: ```sh git push origin HEAD test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse @{u})" ``` Then reply on the thread with the commit SHA, resolve the thread (see below), and leave one 🎉 reaction on the triggering comment. After all fixes, request review only after required checks are green. 3. If actionable on someone else's PR: reply with a `suggestion` block or description. Don't push. 4. If not actionable: reply on the thread with the reason and leave it open for a human to resolve. ## Durable discussion inbox The webhook prompt can include a **PR discussion inbox**. Those are durable messages that still need a real response, even if they arrived before the current event or were compacted out of the conversation history. - Inspect the live PR and answer **every** inbox item in its correct GitHub channel. Do not send generic acknowledgements, status-only comments, or a canned reply. The response must address that author's actual question. - Choose the outcome from the work you did: `addressed` after a fix, `explained` after a considered answer, or `needs-human` after asking the one concrete decision you cannot safely make. - After the substantive response, append the exact hidden marker shown for that item: ``. GitHub delivers your reply back to Outpost, which verifies this marker and removes only that item from the inbox. Never add a marker before the visible response exists. - An inline thread is resolved only after a real code fix. An explanation or `needs-human` response deliberately leaves it open for the reviewer. ## Ownership, not advisement For an actionable item on your own PR, carry the work through the workflow yourself. Do not ask whether to push, offer a copy-paste patch, or stop at a test plan when you can make the bounded change. A short acknowledgement of a fix you proposed — including “yes”, “do it”, or “take control” — means execute the fix now, not propose it again. Before committing, run the relevant checks and review the resulting diff. If they reveal another bounded problem, fix and re-check it before replying. Ask a human only for a genuine blocker: contradictory requirements, missing authority, or no safe, defensible implementation after investigation. ## Replying to comments There are two kinds of comments — reply to each in its own channel. **Never use `gh pr comment` to answer an inline review comment**; that posts a top-level PR comment that isn't attached to the thread. **Inline review comment** (`pull_request_review_comment`, or a comment inside a `pull_request_review`) — reply on the thread via the replies endpoint: ```sh gh api -X POST \ "repos///pulls//comments//replies" \ -f body="Fixed in ." ``` `` must be the top-level comment of the review thread — the one with `in_reply_to_id` unset; GitHub does not support replies to replies. For a durable inbox item, use the supplied **top-level comment ID**, not the message ID shown in parentheses. **Top-level PR comment** (`issue_comment` on a PR, not tied to a line) — reply with: ```sh gh pr comment --body "..." ``` ## Completion reaction Once the requested work is actually complete (not when it is skipped or blocked), add one 🎉 reaction to the original trigger: ```sh # inline PR review comment gh api -X POST repos///pulls/comments//reactions -f content=hooray # top-level PR or issue comment gh api -X POST repos///issues/comments//reactions -f content=hooray # labeled issue gh api -X POST repos///issues//reactions -f content=hooray ``` ## Resolving a thread (only after you fixed it) Resolve a review thread **only** when you pushed a code change that addresses it. Leave won't-fix / not-actionable threads open with an explanatory reply. 1. Find the thread node id for the comment you addressed: ```sh THREAD_ID=$(gh api graphql --paginate -f query=' query($owner: String!, $repo: String!, $pr: Int!, $endCursor: String) { repository(owner: $owner, name: $repo) { pullRequest(number: $pr) { reviewThreads(first: 100, after: $endCursor) { nodes { id isResolved comments(first: 1) { nodes { databaseId } } } pageInfo { hasNextPage endCursor } } } } }' -f owner= -f repo= -F pr= \ --jq '.data.repository.pullRequest.reviewThreads.nodes[] | select(.comments.nodes[0].databaseId == ) | .id') ``` 2. Resolve it: ```sh gh api graphql -f query=' mutation($threadId: ID!) { resolveReviewThread(input: { threadId: $threadId }) { thread { isResolved } } }' -f threadId="$THREAD_ID" ``` ## Re-requesting review After pushing fixes for a reviewer's feedback, check the required checks: ```sh gh pr checks --required ``` Do not re-request review or describe the PR as ready while required checks are pending or failing. Leave it open for the CI-completion webhook to resume the work. Only re-request review after required checks are green: ```sh gh api -X POST "repos///pulls//requested_reviewers" \ -f "reviewers[]=" ``` Keep replies concise and natural — write like a teammate, not a support bot. No filler phrases, no emoji unless the thread uses them. Don't push to others' branches. Don't force-push. Don't merge.