# Requesting Code Review

> Use when completing tasks, implementing major features, or before merging to verify work meets requirements

- Skill: `smallocean43658/requesting-code-review` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add smallocean43658/requesting-code-review`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/smallocean43658/requesting-code-review/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: smallocean43658 (https://skillmd.com/u/smallocean43658)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/smallocean43658/requesting-code-review

---


# 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. This keeps the reviewer focused on the work product, not your thought process, and preserves your own context for continued work.

**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
# For task review, use the commit recorded before the task started.
# For whole-branch review, use the branch merge-base.
BASE_SHA=$(git merge-base main HEAD 2>/dev/null || git merge-base master HEAD)
HEAD_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
```

Do not use `HEAD~1` unless you are certain the work is exactly one commit. For
multi-commit work, `HEAD~1` silently drops earlier commits from review.

**2. Dispatch code reviewer subagent:**

Dispatch a worker-capable reviewer subagent, filling the template at
[code-reviewer.md](code-reviewer.md).

In Codex, use the worker-capable multi-agent tool exposed in the active session
(see [codex-tools.md](../using-superpowers/references/codex-tools.md)). Wait for
the reviewer result and close the finished subagent after handling it.

If no worker-capable multi-agent tool is available, do not claim independent
review was performed. Stop and tell your human partner which review path is
blocked. Ask them to enable Codex multi-agent support or provide another review
channel before proceeding past Critical or Important work.

**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=<commit recorded before Task 2 started>
HEAD_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD)

[Dispatch code reviewer subagent; in Codex, use the active worker subagent tool]
  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]
```

## 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 task or at natural checkpoints
- 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: [code-reviewer.md](code-reviewer.md)