[BLOCKING] Execute skill steps in declared order. NEVER skip, reorder, or merge steps without explicit user approval.
[BLOCKING] Before each step or sub-skill call, update task tracking: set in_progress when step starts, set completed when step ends.
[BLOCKING] Every completed/skipped step MUST include brief evidence or explicit skip reason.
[BLOCKING] If Task tools are unavailable, create and maintain an equivalent step-by-step plan tracker with the same status transitions.
Quick Summary
Goal: Ensure reviewed code is correct, easy to change, convention-aligned, and verification-backed before acceptance or handoff — via receiving feedback with verification (not performative agreement), requesting targeted systematic reviews through the code-reviewer subagent, and enforcing verification gates before completion claims.
Routing boundary: If the user asks to review current changes, uncommitted work, staged/unstaged diffs, or a branch-to-branch diff, use review-changes instead.
Shared engine (keep in sync): code-review and review-changes share the same review-protocol SYNC: blocks. Canonical source: .claude/skills/shared/sync-inline-versions.md; policy: SYNC:shared-protocol-duplication-policy. When you change a shared block in one skill, update the canonical file AND the sibling skill so the two never drift. The skills differ only in entry intent (explicit scope / feedback / completion-gate vs git diff) — not in review quality.
MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION Before reviewing, search for project-specific reference docs:
Coding standards — search: code-review-rules, coding-standards, style-guide, contributing
Architecture — search: patterns-reference, architecture, adr
Test conventions — search: integration-test-reference, test-guide, test-conventions
Design system — search: design-system, design-tokens, component-library
Read found docs before reviewing. None found → rely on tech stack knowledge from file extensions/directory structure.
Workflow:
- Create Review Report — Init
plans/reports/code-review-{date}-{slug}.md
- Phase 0: Blast Radius — Run graph analysis first if
.code-graph/graph.db exists
- Phase 0.3: Risk Detection — Detect dependency, migration, bus/event, API, security, config, and infra risks
- Phase 0.5: Plan Compliance — Verify changed files and tests against active plan when present
- Phase 0.7: Surface Detection — Classify files by language + directory semantics + change nature → route sub-agents; invoke
/review-ui when frontend/UI files are present
- Phase 1: File-by-File — Review each file, update report with correctness, convention, DRY, intent, test, and docs checks
- Phase 2: Holistic — Re-read accumulated report, assess overall approach, architecture, duplication, and cross-boundary behavior
- Phase 3: Final Result — Update report with overall assessment, critical issues, recommendations, docs staleness, and test gaps
- Fix Loop: Validate → Fix → Full Re-Review — When findings exist, validate them first, fix only validated findings, then restart the full review after the fix cycle
Key Rules:
- Report-Driven: Build report incrementally; re-read for big picture
- Detect First: Run graph blast radius when available, then classify change types and file surfaces before any review
- Easy to Change for Code: Treat future change cost as the primary code-quality metric; DRY, SOLID, abstraction, and patterns are tools only when they reduce change amplification
- No Performative Agreement: Technical evaluation only ("You're right!" banned)
- Verification Gates: Evidence required before completion claims
- Review Current Diffs Elsewhere: Current changes, staged/unstaged diffs, and branch diffs belong to
review-changes
- A clean review pass ENDS the review. Do not spend a fresh-context pass re-reviewing known findings before validation/fix; only re-review after fixes change the target.
Code Review
Three practices: receiving feedback with technical rigor, requesting systematic reviews via code-reviewer subagent, enforcing verification gates before completion claims.
Run python .claude/scripts/code_graph query tests_for <function> --json on changed functions to flag coverage gaps.
Review Mindset (NON-NEGOTIABLE)
Skeptical. Every claim needs traced proof file:line. Confidence >80% to act.
- NEVER accept code correctness at face value — trace call paths
- NEVER include finding without
file:line evidence (grep results, read confirmations)
- ALWAYS question: "Does this actually work?" → trace it. "Is this all?" → grep cross-service
- ALWAYS verify side effects: check consumers + dependents before approving
First Principle — Easy to Change
The success metric of every coding decision is future change cost.
DRY, SRP, abstraction, design patterns, naming, layering, tests — every
technique exists to serve one goal: making the next change cheaper.
When evaluating code, a refactor, a test, or an abstraction, ask:
does this make the next change cheaper or more expensive?
- Reject "best practices" that raise change cost (premature abstraction,
speculative generality, leaky indirection, ceremony without payoff).
- Name the real enemies in findings: coupling, hidden state, duplicated
knowledge, unclear intent, irreversible decisions exposed too early.
- Favor project-owned boundaries around external libraries, for example
component/service input-output contracts, when they localize future library
changes; reject pass-through wrappers that add ceremony without lowering
change cost.
- A simpler design that is easy to change beats a sophisticated design that
isn't.
Apply this lens before invoking any specific rule, pattern, or checklist
below — if a downstream rule would raise change cost, this principle wins.
Core Principles (ENFORCE ALL)
| Principle |
Rule |
| YAGNI |
Flag code solving hypothetical problems (unused params, speculative interfaces) |
| KISS |
Flag unnecessary complexity. "Is there a simpler way?" |
| DRY |
Grep for similar/duplicate code. 3+ similar patterns → flag for extraction |
| Clean Code |
Readable > clever. Names reveal intent. Functions do ONE thing. Nesting <=3. Methods <30 lines |
| Convention |
MUST ATTENTION grep 3+ existing examples before flagging violations. Codebase convention wins over textbook |
| No Bugs |
Trace logic paths. Verify edge cases (null, empty, boundary). Check error handling |
| Proof Required |
Every claim backed by file:line evidence. Speculation is forbidden |
| Doc Staleness |
Cross-ref changed files against related docs. Flag stale/missing updates |
Technical correctness over social comfort. Verify before implementing. Evidence before claims.
Graph-Enhanced Review (RECOMMENDED if graph.db exists)
python .claude/scripts/code_graph graph-blast-radius --json — prioritize files by impact (most dependents first)
python .claude/scripts/code_graph query tests_for <function_name> --json — flag untested changed functions
python .claude/scripts/code_graph trace <file> --direction downstream --json — downstream impact (events, bus, cross-service)
python .claude/scripts/code_graph trace <file> --direction both --json — full flow context for controllers/commands/handlers
- Wide blast radius (>20 impacted nodes) = high-risk. Flag in report.
Review Approach (Report-Driven Two-Phase — CRITICAL)
MANDATORY FIRST: Create Todo Tasks
| Task |
Status |
[Review] Create report file |
in_progress |
[Review Phase 0] Run graph blast-radius if available |
pending |
[Review Phase 0.3] Detect high-risk change types |
pending |
[Review Phase 0.5] Plan compliance check (skip if no active plan) |
pending |
[Review Phase 0.7] Detect categories + route sub-agents |
pending |
[Review Phase 0.7b] /review-ui sub-review — skip if no frontend/UI files in changeset |
pending |
[Review Phase 1] File-by-file review + update report |
pending |
[Review Phase 2] Holistic assessment |
pending |
[Review Phase 3] Final findings, docs triage, and test sync findings |
pending |
[Review Fix Loop] Validate findings, fix validated issues, and full re-review if fixes are applied |
pending |
[Review Final] Consolidate all rounds |
pending |
Step 0: Create Report File
Create plans/reports/code-review-{date}-{slug}.md with Scope, Files to Review sections.
Phase 0: Graph Blast Radius (FIRST WHEN AVAILABLE)
If .code-graph/graph.db exists, run graph impact analysis before reviewing:
python .claude/scripts/code_graph graph-blast-radius --json or the project equivalent
- Record impacted files count, untested changed functions, and risk level in the report
- Prioritize high-impact files during Phase 1
If graph data is unavailable, record "Graph not available — skipping blast radius" and continue.
Phase 0.3: Detect High-Risk Change Types
Before file review, inspect the target diff or explicit file set for:
- Bugfix, failed verification, stale/incorrect final output, regression, or behavior-changing fix — require
Debugger Trace: End -> Start, all feeder paths, hypothesis matrix, owning fix layer, and forward convergence proof; missing trace evidence is a High/Critical review finding
- Dependency upgrades — semver, breaking changes, advisories, peer compatibility
- Migrations or schema changes — rollback, lock/volume impact, zero-downtime deployment, idempotent backfill
- Bus events/messages — consumer existence, idempotency, retries, poison/dead-letter handling
- API contract changes — backward compatibility, caller alignment, auth, required response fields
- Security changes — enforcement coverage, privilege escalation, negative tests, duplicated permission strings
- Config/env changes — all environments covered, no secrets, fail-fast behavior, setup docs
- Infra changes — dev/prod parity, pinned versions, CI/CD permissions, reproducible builds
Create focused review tasks for every true signal and complete them before dimensional review.
Phase 0.5: Plan Compliance Check (CONDITIONAL)
If active plan context exists, verify scope, test evidence, and success criteria against the plan before file review; otherwise record the skip reason.
Goal Contract mapping (CONDITIONAL — when an active goal exists): Resolve the active Goal Contract per the goal-contract-satisfaction-loop protocol (active plan goal.md → plans/goals/{YYMMDD-HHmm}-{slug}/goal.md). When found, map the reviewed changes to the saved success criteria in the report — which criteria this changeset advances (with file:line evidence), which it leaves untouched, and any change serving NO saved criterion (flag as scope drift unless justified). Record No active goal — mapping skipped. when none exists; do NOT create a goal file from inside a review.
Phase 0.7: Detect Review Categories
Before any review — classify the changeset and route sub-agents:
| Signal in changed files |
Route to |
| Auth/permission/token/encryption files |
security-auditor |
| Query files, caching, batch processing |
performance-optimizer |
| Source code (logic, handlers, services) |
code-reviewer |
Frontend/UI files (components, templates, .html/.scss/.css, design-system) |
/review-ui skill (see Phase 0.7b) |
| Docs, plans, specs, markdown |
general-purpose |
| Mixed changeset with security/perf files |
Spawn specialized sub-agent first, then code-reviewer |
Phase 0.7b: Frontend/UI Sub-Review (CONDITIONAL — /review-ui)
If the changeset contains any frontend/UI files matching the project's configured UI patterns (components, templates, .html/.scss/.css, design-system tokens), invoke the /review-ui skill as a sub-review so UI-specific concerns are covered — long-content overflow (wrap vs ellipsis+tooltip), responsive multi-screen flex, flex-grow with min/max over fixed px, semantic z-index discipline (no raw numbers, no !important), and BEM classes on all template elements. Fold its findings into this report's Phase 3 results.
Skip (record reason) when no frontend/UI files are present in the changeset — log "Skipped Phase 0.7b — no frontend/UI files in changeset".
Phase 0.8: Derive Review Categories
Group changed files by: file language (extension), directory semantics (path), change nature (new entity, schema, config, UI, test).
For each category: name it, create sub-task, derive concerns using SYNC:category-review-thinking (first principles — NOT a fixed checklist).
Category list = Phase 1 work breakdown. Each category → own section in report.
Phase 1: File-by-File Review (Build Report)
For EACH file, immediately update report:
- File path, Change Summary, Purpose, Issues Found
- Convention check: Grep 3+ similar patterns — does new code follow existing convention?
- Correctness check: Trace logic — null, empty, boundary, error cases handled?
- DRY check: Grep for similar/duplicate code — does this logic exist elsewhere?
- Intention check: Does the change serve the stated purpose? Flag unrelated modifications
- Test check: Changed behavior has corresponding test/spec coverage or a documented gap
- Documentation check: Related docs/specs/READMEs still match the changed behavior
Phase 2: Holistic Review (Re-read Report)
After all files reviewed, re-read accumulated report:
- Technical Solution: Overall approach coherent as unified plan?
- Responsibility: Logic in LOWEST layer? Business logic not in controllers?
- Data ownership: Constants/config in model/entity, not controller/component?
- Duplication: Grep to verify — duplicated logic across changes?
- Architecture: Clean Architecture? Service boundaries respected?
- Plan Compliance: If active plan → check
## Plan Context: impl matches requirements, TCs have code evidence (not "TBD"), no requirement unaddressed
- Design Patterns: Pattern opportunities (switch→Strategy)? Anti-patterns (God Object, Copy-Paste, Circular Dep)? DRY via base classes?
- Cross-Boundary Behavior: Callers/callees aligned? API/event contracts consistent? New wiring reachable?
- Test Sync: Business logic changes have corresponding tests or explicit user-facing gap
- Translation Sync: Multilingual UI text changes have translation updates or explicit risk acceptance
- Bugfix Trace Completeness: If the diff is a bugfix or behavior-changing fix, the review report must state whether final-state trace, feeder paths, hypothesis matrix, owning fix layer, forward convergence proof, and tests/proof mapping are complete
MUST ATTENTION CHECK — Clean Code: YAGNI (unused params, speculative interfaces)? KISS (simpler exists)? Methods >30 lines or nesting >3?
MUST ATTENTION CHECK — Correctness: Null/empty/boundary handled? Error paths caught? Async race conditions? Trace happy + error paths.
Documentation Staleness Check:
For each changed file — grep file name/module across docs/ and AI tooling dirs. Changed behavior → flag stale doc (specific section + what changed). Flag the staleness only — never auto-fix docs here.
Common staleness patterns: count/limit changed → docs embedding that number | API/contract changed → API usage docs | hook/skill added/removed → catalogs/README | schema changed → entity reference docs.
Phase 3: Final Review Result
Update report: Overall Assessment, Critical Issues, High Priority, Architecture Recommendations, Documentation Staleness, Positive Observations.
If documentation staleness is detected, recommend docs-update and list exact stale sections; do not silently pass stale docs.
Validated Fix + Full Re-Review (MANDATORY when findings are fixed)
After Phase 3, do not spawn a fresh reviewer just to re-review the same finding set. First validate findings, then fix only validated findings. Because fixes change the review target, restart the full review after the fix cycle. If that restarted protocol uses sub-agents, construct each Agent call with the canonical template from SYNC:review-protocol-injection:
- Copy Agent call shape from
SYNC:review-protocol-injection verbatim
- Embed full verbatim body of all 10 SYNC blocks:
SYNC:evidence-based-reasoning, SYNC:bug-detection, SYNC:design-patterns-quality, SYNC:complexity-prevention, SYNC:logic-and-intention-review, SYNC:test-spec-verification, SYNC:fix-layer-accountability, SYNC:rationalization-prevention, SYNC:graph-assisted-investigation, SYNC:understand-code-first
- Task:
"Run a full fresh code-review pass over the current assigned scope after validated fixes were applied. Focus: cross-cutting concerns, interaction bugs, convention drift, missing pieces, subtle edge cases, logic errors, test spec gaps, and regressions introduced by the fixes."
- Target Files:
"use the explicit files, plan scope, or reviewer-provided target range"
- Report:
plans/reports/code-review-rerun{N}-{date}.md
After sub-agent returns:
- Read report from
plans/reports/code-review-rerun{N}-{date}.md
- Integrate findings as
## Re-Review {N} Findings — DO NOT filter or override
- If findings remain: validate the new finding set before any additional fixes
- Repeat only after another fix cycle: restart the full review again after validated fixes are applied; if the same blocker repeats across 3 full invocations with no progress, escalate via
AskUserQuestion
Clean Code Rules (MUST ATTENTION CHECK)
| # |
Rule |
Details |
| 1 |
No Magic Values |
All literals → named constants |
| 2 |
Type Annotations |
Explicit parameter and return types on all functions |
| 3 |
Single Responsibility |
One concern per method/class. Event handlers/consumers: one handler = one concern. NEVER bundle — a framework event dispatcher can swallow handler exceptions silently |
| 4 |
DRY |
No duplication; extract shared logic |
| 5 |
Naming |
Specific (orderRecords not data), Verb+Noun methods, is/has/can/should booleans, no abbreviations |
| 6 |
Performance |
No O(n²) (use dictionary). Project in query (not load-all). ALWAYS paginate. Batch-by-IDs (not N+1) |
| 7 |
Entity Indexes |
Collections: index management methods. EF Core: composite indexes. Expression fields match index order. Text search → text indexes |
Data Lifecycle Rules (MUST ATTENTION CHECK)
Decision test: "Delete the DB and start fresh — does this data still need to exist?" Yes → Seeder/fixture. No → Migration.
| Type |
Contains |
NEVER contains |
| Seeder / Fixture |
Default records, system config, reference data (idempotent — safe to run every startup) |
Schema changes |
| Migration |
Schema changes, column adds/removes, data transforms, index changes |
Default records, permission seeds, system config |
Apply project's language/framework conventions. Principle universal — implementation project-specific.
Legacy Pattern Compliance
When reviewing files with legacy and modern patterns:
- Detect legacy signals — search
project-config.json, package.json, or equivalent for "legacy", version flags, feature annotations
- Read what "legacy" means — grep 3+ legacy files to understand pattern constraints vs. modern files
- Derive compliance rules — what lifecycle/memory management differences exist between legacy/modern for this tech stack?
- Apply tech stack knowledge to flag anti-patterns
NEVER assume any specific framework's lifecycle. Derive from codebase evidence.
When to Use This Skill
| Practice |
Triggers |
MUST ATTENTION READ |
| Receiving Feedback |
Review comments received, feedback unclear/questionable, conflicts with existing decisions |
references/code-review-reception.md |
| Requesting Review |
After each subagent task, major feature done, targeted review scope, after complex bug fix |
references/requesting-code-review.md |
| Verification Gates |
Before any completion claim, commit, push, or PR. ANY success/satisfaction statement |
references/verification-before-completion.md |
Quick Decision Tree
SITUATION?
│
├─ Received feedback
│ ├─ Unclear items? → STOP, ask for clarification first
│ ├─ From human partner? → Understand, then implement
│ └─ From external reviewer? → Verify technically before implementing
│
├─ Completed work
│ ├─ Major feature/task? → Request code-reviewer subagent review
│ └─ Before merge? → Request code-reviewer subagent review
│
└─ About to claim status
├─ Have fresh verification? → State claim WITH evidence
└─ No fresh verification? → RUN verification command first
Receiving Feedback Protocol
Pattern: READ → UNDERSTAND → VERIFY → EVALUATE → RESPOND → IMPLEMENT
- NEVER use performative agreement ("You're right!", "Great point!", "Thanks for...")
- NEVER implement before verification
- MUST ATTENTION restate requirement, ask questions, or push back with technical reasoning
- MUST ATTENTION ask for clarification on ALL unclear items BEFORE starting
- MUST ATTENTION grep for usage before implementing suggested "proper" features (YAGNI check)
Source handling: Human partner → implement after understanding. External reviewer → verify technically, push back if wrong.
Full protocol: references/code-review-reception.md
Requesting Review Protocol
- Get git SHAs:
BASE_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD~1) and HEAD_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
- Dispatch code-reviewer subagent with: WHAT_WAS_IMPLEMENTED, PLAN_OR_REQUIREMENTS, BASE_SHA, HEAD_SHA, DESCRIPTION
- Act on feedback: Critical → fix immediately. Important → fix before proceeding. Minor → note for later.
Full protocol: references/requesting-code-review.md
Verification Gates Protocol
Iron Law: NO COMPLETION CLAIMS WITHOUT FRESH VERIFICATION EVIDENCE
Gate: IDENTIFY command → RUN it → READ output → VERIFY it confirms claim → THEN claim. Skip any step = lying.
| Claim |
Required Evidence |
| Tests pass |
Test output shows 0 failures |
| Build succeeds |
Build command exit 0 |
| Bug fixed |
Original symptom test passes |
| Requirements met |
Line-by-line checklist verified |
Red Flags — STOP: "should"/"probably"/"seems to", satisfaction before verification, committing without verification, trusting agent reports.
Full protocol: references/verification-before-completion.md
Related
code-simplifier
debug-investigate
refactoring
Systematic Review Protocol (10+ changed files)
For large changesets: categorize files by concern → fire parallel code-reviewer sub-agents per category → synchronize findings → holistic assessment. See review-changes/SKILL.md § "Systematic Review Protocol" for full 4-step protocol.
Workflow Recommendation
MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION — NO EXCEPTIONS: If NOT already in a workflow, use AskUserQuestion to ask user:
- Activate
workflow-review-changes workflow (Recommended) — full review → validated fix cycle → re-review until clean
- Execute
/code-review directly — run standalone
Architecture Boundary Check
For each changed file, verify no forbidden layer imports:
- Read rules from
docs/project-config.json → architectureRules.layerBoundaries
- Determine layer — match file path against each rule's
paths glob patterns
- Scan imports — grep for the configured language's import/include statements
- Check violations — import path contains forbidden layer name → violation
- Exclude framework — skip files matching
architectureRules.excludePatterns
- BLOCK on violation —
"BLOCKED: {layer} layer file {filePath} imports from {forbiddenLayer} ({importStatement})"
If architectureRules absent in project-config.json → skip silently.
Phase 4: Why-Review Self-Validation Gate (MANDATORY when findings exist)
Purpose: Adversarial validation of own findings BEFORE handoff. Catches over-flagged Highs, false positives, and severity inflation at the source rather than letting them propagate downstream.
Trigger: Any finding produced (Critical, High, Medium, OR Low). Skip ONLY when the report's verdict is unconditional PASS with literally zero findings.
Protocol:
- Read own finalized report from
plans/reports/{skill}-{date}-{slug}.md
- Invoke
/why-review skill with arg: validate findings in plans/reports/{skill}-{date}-{slug}.md — verify each finding has file:line proof, steel-man each rejected interpretation, and stress-test severity classifications
- Read the validation verdict path returned by why-review, expected as
plans/reports/why-review-validate-{date}.md
- If why-review demotes/removes any finding: UPDATE own finalized report with revised severities, remove false positives, and add a
## Why-Review Validation Notes section citing what changed and why
- If why-review confirms all findings: Append
## Why-Review Validation line to own report stating "All N findings re-validated against actual code; no severity changes."
Skip conditions (record explicit reason if skipping):
- Verdict is unconditional PASS with zero findings → log "Skipped — no findings to validate"
- Why-review skill itself is the active context (avoid recursion)
Why this exists: AI sub-agent reports inherit confirmation bias — the orchestrator absorbs severity claims as ground truth. The 2026-05-09 review incident produced 5 Highs; adversarial validation demoted 3 of them. Codify this as standard practice.
Next Steps
MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION — NO EXCEPTIONS after completing, use AskUserQuestion:
- "/fix (Recommended)" — review found issues needing fixes
- "/watzup" — review clean, wrap up session
- "Skip, continue manually" — user decides
AI Agent Integrity Gate (NON-NEGOTIABLE)
Completion ≠ Correctness. Before reporting ANY work done:
- Grep every removed name. Extraction/rename/delete → grep confirms 0 dangling refs across ALL file types.
- Ask WHY before changing. Existing values intentional until proven otherwise.
- Verify ALL outputs. One build passing ≠ all builds passing.
- Evaluate pattern fit. Copying nearby code? Verify preconditions match — scope, lifetime, base class, constraints.
- New artifact = wired artifact. Created something? Prove it's registered, imported, reachable by all consumers.
[IMPORTANT] Use TaskCreate to break ALL work into small tasks BEFORE starting — including tasks for each file read. This prevents context loss from long files. For simple tasks, AI MUST ATTENTION ask user whether to skip.
Critical Purpose: Ensure quality — no flaws, bugs, missing updates, stale content. Verify code AND documentation.
External Memory: Complex work → write findings incrementally to plans/reports/ — prevents context loss, serves as deliverable.
Evidence Gate: MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION — every claim, finding, recommendation requires file:line proof + confidence % (>80% act, <80% verify first).
OOP & DRY: MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION — flag patterns extractable to base class/generic/helper. Same-suffix/lifecycle/responsibility classes MUST ATTENTION share common base. Apply idiomatic abstraction (base class, mixin, trait, protocol) for project's language. Verify linting/analyzer configured.
End-to-Start Debugger Trace — For non-trivial bugs, failed verification, regression fixes, behavior-changing code, or unclear code flow, start from the observed final state and walk backward before proposing a fix.
- Frame 0: observed end state — Name the exact user-visible output, failing assertion, log line, persisted value, API response, rendered UI, or aggregate bucket. Record the reader/query/renderer that produced it with
file:line evidence.
- Walk backward one hop at a time — Trace final reader -> projection/cache/storage -> writer -> consumer/handler/job -> producer/caller -> original trigger. At every hop record: input, transformation, output, owner, and evidence.
- Enumerate all feeder paths — Find every upstream producer/caller/event/job that can write into the final path, including retry, async, cache, background, and alternate UI/API paths. Mark each path verified, ruled out, or still unknown.
- Build the hypothesis matrix — For each plausible cause, list evidence for, evidence against, how to reproduce/verify, blast radius, and status (
primary, contributing, ruled out, latent). Do not fix until competing causes are explicitly resolved or bounded.
- Choose the owning fix layer — Identify the invariant owner and the lowest shared point that protects all downstream consumers. A fix at the symptom site is rejected unless the symptom site owns the invariant.
- Prove convergence forward — After choosing the fix, walk start -> end again and show how the corrected state reaches the observed final output. Map each root cause to a fix part and each fix part to a test/proof.
BLOCKED until: final state named · backward trace written · all feeder paths enumerated · hypothesis matrix completed · owning fix layer justified · forward convergence proof mapped to tests.
NEVER: Start at the first suspicious code path. Collapse multiple producers into one "flow". Treat duplicate symptoms as duplicate records without proving the read model. Skip ruled-out hypotheses.
Graph-Assisted Investigation — MANDATORY when .code-graph/graph.db exists.
HARD-GATE: MUST ATTENTION run at least ONE graph command on key files before concluding any investigation.
Pattern: Grep finds files → trace --direction both reveals full system flow → Grep verifies details
| Task |
Minimum Graph Action |
| Investigation/Scout |
trace --direction both on 2-3 entry files |
| Fix/Debug |
callers_of on buggy function + tests_for |
| Feature/Enhancement |
connections on files to be modified |
| Code Review |
tests_for on changed functions |
| Blast Radius |
trace --direction downstream |
CLI: python .claude/scripts/code_graph {command} --json. Use --node-mode file first (10-30x less noise), then --node-mode function for detail.
Category Review Thinking — For each category of changed files, think from first principles. Do NOT use a fixed checklist — derive concerns based on the category's domain.
Step 1: Understand the category's role
What is this category responsible for? What are its invariants? Who are its consumers (callers, dependents, downstream systems)?
Step 2: Read project conventions for this category
Grep 3+ existing similar files in this category. What patterns do they follow? What base classes/interfaces/abstractions do they use?
Step 3: Derive concerns from first principles
Given the category's role and invariants, what could go wrong? Start from universal concerns, then expand with category-specific knowledge:
- Correctness: Does the change do what it claims? Are contracts maintained?
- Contracts: Does the change preserve consumer-facing behavior?
- Security: What trust assumptions does this category make? Are they still valid?
- Performance: Does the change introduce O(n²), unbounded queries, or unnecessary I/O?
- Maintainability: Does the change follow existing patterns? Does it introduce hidden coupling?
- Tests: Is the changed behavior observable and testable?
- Documentation: Does the change invalidate any existing docs or specs?
These are starting points — your domain knowledge of the tech stack should expand this list. Do NOT limit yourself to what's listed above.
Step 4: Create sub-tasks and execute with file:line evidence
Convert derived concerns into concrete review tasks. Each task must produce file:line evidence. No findings without proof.
Examples of categories (illustrative — NOT exhaustive):
- Logic/domain files (business rules, handlers, services)
- Data/schema files (migrations, models, ORM definitions)
- API/contract files (controllers, routes, serializers, proto definitions)
- Configuration/environment files (env vars, feature flags, secrets)
- Infrastructure files (Dockerfiles, CI pipelines, manifests)
- UI/style files (components, templates, stylesheets)
- Test files (unit, integration, e2e)
- Documentation files (markdown, specs, ADRs)
- Security artifacts (auth middleware, permission definitions, crypto)
- Tooling/build files (build configs, linting rules, dependency manifests)
Sub-Agent Return Contract — When this skill spawns a sub-agent, the sub-agent MUST return ONLY this structure. Main agent reads only this summary — NEVER requests full sub-agent output inline.
## Sub-Agent Result: [skill-name]
Status: ✅ PASS | ⚠️ PARTIAL | ❌ FAIL
Confidence: [0-100]%
### Findings (Critical/High only — max 10 bullets)
- [severity] [file:line] [finding]
### Actions Taken
- [file changed] [what changed]
### Blockers (if any)
- [blocker description]
Full report: plans/reports/[skill-name]-[date]-[slug].md
Main agent reads Full report file ONLY when: (a) resolving a specific blocker, or (b) building a fix plan.
Sub-agent writes full report incrementally (per SYNC:incremental-persistence) — not held in memory.
Nested Task Expansion Contract — For workflow-step invocation, the [Workflow] ... row is only a parent container; the child skill still creates visible phase tasks.
- Call
TaskList first. If a matching active parent workflow row exists, set nested=true and record parentTaskId; otherwise run standalone.
- Create one task per declared phase before phase work. When nested, prefix subjects
[N.M] $skill-name — phase.
- When nested, link the parent with
TaskUpdate(parentTaskId, addBlockedBy: [childIds]).
- Orchestrators must pre-expand a child skill's phase list and link the workflow row before invoking that child skill or sub-agent.
- Mark exactly one child
in_progress before work and completed immediately after evidence is written.
- Complete the parent only after all child tasks are completed or explicitly cancelled with reason.
Blocked until: TaskList done, child phases created, parent linked when nested, first child marked in_progress.
Project Reference Docs Gate — Run after task-tracking bootstrap and before target/source file reads, grep, edits, or analysis. Project docs override generic framework assumptions.
- Identify scope: file types, domain area, and operation.
- Required docs by trigger: always
docs/project-reference/lessons.md; doc lookup docs-index-reference.md; review code-review-rules.md; backend/CQRS/API backend-patterns-reference.md; domain/entity domain-entities-reference.md; frontend/UI frontend-patterns-reference.md; styles/design scss-styling-guide.md + design-system/design-system-canonical.md; integration tests integration-test-reference.md; E2E e2e-test-reference.md; feature docs/specs feature-spec-reference.md + spec-system-reference.md + spec-principles.md; behavior/public-contract/spec-test-code sync workflow-spec-test-code-cycle-reference.md; derived spec index/ERD/reimplementation guides spec-system-reference.md + source Feature Specs under docs/specs/; architecture/new area project-structure-reference.md.
- Rea
…(truncated)
1---2name: duc01226-easyplatform-code-review3description: <!-- PROMPT-ENHANCE:STEP-TASK-ANCHOR:START -->4---56<!-- PROMPT-ENHANCE:STEP-TASK-ANCHOR:START -->78> **[BLOCKING]** Execute skill steps in declared order. NEVER skip, reorder, or merge steps without explicit user approval.9> **[BLOCKING]** Before each step or sub-skill call, update task tracking: set `in_progress` when step starts, set `completed` when step ends.10> **[BLOCKING]** Every completed/skipped step MUST include brief evidence or explicit skip reason.11> **[BLOCKING]** If Task tools are unavailable, create and maintain an equivalent step-by-step plan tracker with the same status transitions.1213<!-- PROMPT-ENHANCE:STEP-TASK-ANCHOR:END -->1415## Quick Summary1617**Goal:** Ensure reviewed code is correct, easy to change, convention-aligned, and verification-backed before acceptance or handoff — via receiving feedback with verification (not performative agreement), requesting targeted systematic reviews through the code-reviewer subagent, and enforcing verification gates before completion claims.1819> **Routing boundary:** If the user asks to review current changes, uncommitted work, staged/unstaged diffs, or a branch-to-branch diff, use `review-changes` instead.2021> **Shared engine (keep in sync):** `code-review` and `review-changes` share the same review-protocol `SYNC:` blocks. Canonical source: `.claude/skills/shared/sync-inline-versions.md`; policy: `SYNC:shared-protocol-duplication-policy`. When you change a shared block in one skill, update the canonical file AND the sibling skill so the two never drift. The skills differ only in entry intent (explicit scope / feedback / completion-gate vs git diff) — not in review quality.2223> **MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION** Before reviewing, search for project-specific reference docs:24>25> **Coding standards** — search: `code-review-rules`, `coding-standards`, `style-guide`, `contributing`26> **Architecture** — search: `patterns-reference`, `architecture`, `adr`27> **Test conventions** — search: `integration-test-reference`, `test-guide`, `test-conventions`28> **Design system** — search: `design-system`, `design-tokens`, `component-library`29>30> Read found docs before reviewing. None found → rely on tech stack knowledge from file extensions/directory structure.3132**Workflow:**33341. **Create Review Report** — Init `plans/reports/code-review-{date}-{slug}.md`352. **Phase 0: Blast Radius** — Run graph analysis first if `.code-graph/graph.db` exists363. **Phase 0.3: Risk Detection** — Detect dependency, migration, bus/event, API, security, config, and infra risks374. **Phase 0.5: Plan Compliance** — Verify changed files and tests against active plan when present385. **Phase 0.7: Surface Detection** — Classify files by language + directory semantics + change nature → route sub-agents; invoke `/review-ui` when frontend/UI files are present396. **Phase 1: File-by-File** — Review each file, update report with correctness, convention, DRY, intent, test, and docs checks407. **Phase 2: Holistic** — Re-read accumulated report, assess overall approach, architecture, duplication, and cross-boundary behavior418. **Phase 3: Final Result** — Update report with overall assessment, critical issues, recommendations, docs staleness, and test gaps429. **Fix Loop: Validate → Fix → Full Re-Review** — When findings exist, validate them first, fix only validated findings, then restart the full review after the fix cycle4344**Key Rules:**4546- **Report-Driven**: Build report incrementally; re-read for big picture47- **Detect First**: Run graph blast radius when available, then classify change types and file surfaces before any review48- **Easy to Change for Code**: Treat future change cost as the primary code-quality metric; DRY, SOLID, abstraction, and patterns are tools only when they reduce change amplification49- **No Performative Agreement**: Technical evaluation only ("You're right!" banned)50- **Verification Gates**: Evidence required before completion claims51- **Review Current Diffs Elsewhere**: Current changes, staged/unstaged diffs, and branch diffs belong to `review-changes`52- **A clean review pass ENDS the review.** Do not spend a fresh-context pass re-reviewing known findings before validation/fix; only re-review after fixes change the target.5354# Code Review5556Three practices: receiving feedback with technical rigor, requesting systematic reviews via code-reviewer subagent, enforcing verification gates before completion claims.5758> Run `python .claude/scripts/code_graph query tests_for <function> --json` on changed functions to flag coverage gaps.5960## Review Mindset (NON-NEGOTIABLE)6162**Skeptical. Every claim needs traced proof `file:line`. Confidence >80% to act.**6364- NEVER accept code correctness at face value — trace call paths65- NEVER include finding without `file:line` evidence (grep results, read confirmations)66- ALWAYS question: "Does this actually work?" → trace it. "Is this all?" → grep cross-service67- ALWAYS verify side effects: check consumers + dependents before approving6869## First Principle — Easy to Change7071> **The success metric of every coding decision is _future change cost_.**72> DRY, SRP, abstraction, design patterns, naming, layering, tests — every73> technique exists to serve one goal: **making the next change cheaper**.7475When evaluating code, a refactor, a test, or an abstraction, ask:76**does this make the next change cheaper or more expensive?**7778- Reject "best practices" that raise change cost (premature abstraction,79 speculative generality, leaky indirection, ceremony without payoff).80- Name the real enemies in findings: **coupling, hidden state, duplicated81 knowledge, unclear intent, irreversible decisions exposed too early**.82- Favor project-owned boundaries around external libraries, for example83 component/service input-output contracts, when they localize future library84 changes; reject pass-through wrappers that add ceremony without lowering85 change cost.86- A simpler design that is easy to change beats a sophisticated design that87 isn't.8889Apply this lens **before** invoking any specific rule, pattern, or checklist90below — if a downstream rule would raise change cost, this principle wins.9192---9394## Core Principles (ENFORCE ALL)9596| Principle | Rule |97| ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |98| **YAGNI** | Flag code solving hypothetical problems (unused params, speculative interfaces) |99| **KISS** | Flag unnecessary complexity. "Is there a simpler way?" |100| **DRY** | Grep for similar/duplicate code. 3+ similar patterns → flag for extraction |101| **Clean Code** | Readable > clever. Names reveal intent. Functions do ONE thing. Nesting <=3. Methods <30 lines |102| **Convention** | MUST ATTENTION grep 3+ existing examples before flagging violations. Codebase convention wins over textbook |103| **No Bugs** | Trace logic paths. Verify edge cases (null, empty, boundary). Check error handling |104| **Proof Required** | Every claim backed by `file:line` evidence. Speculation is forbidden |105| **Doc Staleness** | Cross-ref changed files against related docs. Flag stale/missing updates |106107**Technical correctness over social comfort.** Verify before implementing. Evidence before claims.108109## Graph-Enhanced Review (RECOMMENDED if graph.db exists)1101111. `python .claude/scripts/code_graph graph-blast-radius --json` — prioritize files by impact (most dependents first)1122. `python .claude/scripts/code_graph query tests_for <function_name> --json` — flag untested changed functions1133. `python .claude/scripts/code_graph trace <file> --direction downstream --json` — downstream impact (events, bus, cross-service)1144. `python .claude/scripts/code_graph trace <file> --direction both --json` — full flow context for controllers/commands/handlers1155. Wide blast radius (>20 impacted nodes) = high-risk. Flag in report.116117## Review Approach (Report-Driven Two-Phase — CRITICAL)118119**MANDATORY FIRST: Create Todo Tasks**120121| Task | Status |122| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- |123| `[Review] Create report file` | in_progress |124| `[Review Phase 0] Run graph blast-radius if available` | pending |125| `[Review Phase 0.3] Detect high-risk change types` | pending |126| `[Review Phase 0.5] Plan compliance check (skip if no active plan)` | pending |127| `[Review Phase 0.7] Detect categories + route sub-agents` | pending |128| `[Review Phase 0.7b] /review-ui sub-review — skip if no frontend/UI files in changeset` | pending |129| `[Review Phase 1] File-by-file review + update report` | pending |130| `[Review Phase 2] Holistic assessment` | pending |131| `[Review Phase 3] Final findings, docs triage, and test sync findings` | pending |132| `[Review Fix Loop] Validate findings, fix validated issues, and full re-review if fixes are applied` | pending |133| `[Review Final] Consolidate all rounds` | pending |134135**Step 0: Create Report File**136137Create `plans/reports/code-review-{date}-{slug}.md` with Scope, Files to Review sections.138139**Phase 0: Graph Blast Radius (FIRST WHEN AVAILABLE)**140141If `.code-graph/graph.db` exists, run graph impact analysis before reviewing:142143- `python .claude/scripts/code_graph graph-blast-radius --json` or the project equivalent144- Record impacted files count, untested changed functions, and risk level in the report145- Prioritize high-impact files during Phase 1146147If graph data is unavailable, record "Graph not available — skipping blast radius" and continue.148149**Phase 0.3: Detect High-Risk Change Types**150151Before file review, inspect the target diff or explicit file set for:152153- Bugfix, failed verification, stale/incorrect final output, regression, or behavior-changing fix — require `Debugger Trace: End -> Start`, all feeder paths, hypothesis matrix, owning fix layer, and forward convergence proof; missing trace evidence is a High/Critical review finding154- Dependency upgrades — semver, breaking changes, advisories, peer compatibility155- Migrations or schema changes — rollback, lock/volume impact, zero-downtime deployment, idempotent backfill156- Bus events/messages — consumer existence, idempotency, retries, poison/dead-letter handling157- API contract changes — backward compatibility, caller alignment, auth, required response fields158- Security changes — enforcement coverage, privilege escalation, negative tests, duplicated permission strings159- Config/env changes — all environments covered, no secrets, fail-fast behavior, setup docs160- Infra changes — dev/prod parity, pinned versions, CI/CD permissions, reproducible builds161162Create focused review tasks for every true signal and complete them before dimensional review.163164**Phase 0.5: Plan Compliance Check (CONDITIONAL)**165166If active plan context exists, verify scope, test evidence, and success criteria against the plan before file review; otherwise record the skip reason.167168**Goal Contract mapping (CONDITIONAL — when an active goal exists):** Resolve the active Goal Contract per the goal-contract-satisfaction-loop protocol (active plan `goal.md` → `plans/goals/{YYMMDD-HHmm}-{slug}/goal.md`). When found, map the reviewed changes to the saved success criteria in the report — which criteria this changeset advances (with `file:line` evidence), which it leaves untouched, and any change serving NO saved criterion (flag as scope drift unless justified). Record `No active goal — mapping skipped.` when none exists; do NOT create a goal file from inside a review.169170**Phase 0.7: Detect Review Categories**171172Before any review — classify the changeset and route sub-agents:173174| Signal in changed files | Route to |175| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |176| Auth/permission/token/encryption files | `security-auditor` |177| Query files, caching, batch processing | `performance-optimizer` |178| Source code (logic, handlers, services) | `code-reviewer` |179| Frontend/UI files (components, templates, `.html`/`.scss`/`.css`, design-system) | `/review-ui` skill (see Phase 0.7b) |180| Docs, plans, specs, markdown | `general-purpose` |181| Mixed changeset with security/perf files | Spawn specialized sub-agent first, then `code-reviewer` |182183**Phase 0.7b: Frontend/UI Sub-Review (CONDITIONAL — `/review-ui`)**184185If the changeset contains any frontend/UI files matching the project's configured UI patterns (components, templates, `.html`/`.scss`/`.css`, design-system tokens), invoke the `/review-ui` skill as a sub-review so UI-specific concerns are covered — long-content overflow (wrap vs ellipsis+tooltip), responsive multi-screen flex, flex-grow with min/max over fixed px, semantic z-index discipline (no raw numbers, no `!important`), and BEM classes on all template elements. Fold its findings into this report's Phase 3 results.186187**Skip (record reason)** when no frontend/UI files are present in the changeset — log "Skipped Phase 0.7b — no frontend/UI files in changeset".188189**Phase 0.8: Derive Review Categories**190191Group changed files by: file language (extension), directory semantics (path), change nature (new entity, schema, config, UI, test).192193For each category: name it, create sub-task, derive concerns using `SYNC:category-review-thinking` (first principles — NOT a fixed checklist).194195> Category list = Phase 1 work breakdown. Each category → own section in report.196197**Phase 1: File-by-File Review (Build Report)**198199For EACH file, immediately update report:200201- File path, Change Summary, Purpose, Issues Found202- **Convention check:** Grep 3+ similar patterns — does new code follow existing convention?203- **Correctness check:** Trace logic — null, empty, boundary, error cases handled?204- **DRY check:** Grep for similar/duplicate code — does this logic exist elsewhere?205- **Intention check:** Does the change serve the stated purpose? Flag unrelated modifications206- **Test check:** Changed behavior has corresponding test/spec coverage or a documented gap207- **Documentation check:** Related docs/specs/READMEs still match the changed behavior208209**Phase 2: Holistic Review (Re-read Report)**210211After all files reviewed, re-read accumulated report:212213- **Technical Solution**: Overall approach coherent as unified plan?214- **Responsibility**: Logic in LOWEST layer? Business logic not in controllers?215- **Data ownership**: Constants/config in model/entity, not controller/component?216- **Duplication**: Grep to verify — duplicated logic across changes?217- **Architecture**: Clean Architecture? Service boundaries respected?218- **Plan Compliance**: If active plan → check `## Plan Context`: impl matches requirements, TCs have code evidence (not "TBD"), no requirement unaddressed219- **Design Patterns**: Pattern opportunities (switch→Strategy)? Anti-patterns (God Object, Copy-Paste, Circular Dep)? DRY via base classes?220- **Cross-Boundary Behavior**: Callers/callees aligned? API/event contracts consistent? New wiring reachable?221- **Test Sync**: Business logic changes have corresponding tests or explicit user-facing gap222- **Translation Sync**: Multilingual UI text changes have translation updates or explicit risk acceptance223- **Bugfix Trace Completeness**: If the diff is a bugfix or behavior-changing fix, the review report must state whether final-state trace, feeder paths, hypothesis matrix, owning fix layer, forward convergence proof, and tests/proof mapping are complete224225**MUST ATTENTION CHECK — Clean Code:** YAGNI (unused params, speculative interfaces)? KISS (simpler exists)? Methods >30 lines or nesting >3?226227**MUST ATTENTION CHECK — Correctness:** Null/empty/boundary handled? Error paths caught? Async race conditions? Trace happy + error paths.228229**Documentation Staleness Check:**230231For each changed file — grep file name/module across `docs/` and AI tooling dirs. Changed behavior → flag stale doc (specific section + what changed). **Flag the staleness only — never auto-fix docs here.**232233Common staleness patterns: count/limit changed → docs embedding that number | API/contract changed → API usage docs | hook/skill added/removed → catalogs/README | schema changed → entity reference docs.234235**Phase 3: Final Review Result**236237Update report: Overall Assessment, Critical Issues, High Priority, Architecture Recommendations, Documentation Staleness, Positive Observations.238239If documentation staleness is detected, recommend `docs-update` and list exact stale sections; do not silently pass stale docs.240241## Validated Fix + Full Re-Review (MANDATORY when findings are fixed)242243After Phase 3, do not spawn a fresh reviewer just to re-review the same finding set. First validate findings, then fix only validated findings. Because fixes change the review target, restart the full review after the fix cycle. If that restarted protocol uses sub-agents, construct each Agent call with the canonical template from `SYNC:review-protocol-injection`:2442451. Copy Agent call shape from `SYNC:review-protocol-injection` verbatim2462. Embed full verbatim body of all 10 SYNC blocks: `SYNC:evidence-based-reasoning`, `SYNC:bug-detection`, `SYNC:design-patterns-quality`, `SYNC:complexity-prevention`, `SYNC:logic-and-intention-review`, `SYNC:test-spec-verification`, `SYNC:fix-layer-accountability`, `SYNC:rationalization-prevention`, `SYNC:graph-assisted-investigation`, `SYNC:understand-code-first`2473. Task: `"Run a full fresh code-review pass over the current assigned scope after validated fixes were applied. Focus: cross-cutting concerns, interaction bugs, convention drift, missing pieces, subtle edge cases, logic errors, test spec gaps, and regressions introduced by the fixes."`2484. Target Files: `"use the explicit files, plan scope, or reviewer-provided target range"`2495. Report: `plans/reports/code-review-rerun{N}-{date}.md`250251After sub-agent returns:2522531. **Read** report from `plans/reports/code-review-rerun{N}-{date}.md`2542. **Integrate** findings as `## Re-Review {N} Findings` — DO NOT filter or override2553. **If findings remain:** validate the new finding set before any additional fixes2564. **Repeat only after another fix cycle:** restart the full review again after validated fixes are applied; if the same blocker repeats across 3 full invocations with no progress, escalate via `AskUserQuestion`257258## Clean Code Rules (MUST ATTENTION CHECK)259260| # | Rule | Details |261| --- | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |262| 1 | **No Magic Values** | All literals → named constants |263| 2 | **Type Annotations** | Explicit parameter and return types on all functions |264| 3 | **Single Responsibility** | One concern per method/class. Event handlers/consumers: one handler = one concern. NEVER bundle — a framework event dispatcher can swallow handler exceptions silently |265| 4 | **DRY** | No duplication; extract shared logic |266| 5 | **Naming** | Specific (`orderRecords` not `data`), Verb+Noun methods, is/has/can/should booleans, no abbreviations |267| 6 | **Performance** | No O(n²) (use dictionary). Project in query (not load-all). ALWAYS paginate. Batch-by-IDs (not N+1) |268| 7 | **Entity Indexes** | Collections: index management methods. EF Core: composite indexes. Expression fields match index order. Text search → text indexes |269270## Data Lifecycle Rules (MUST ATTENTION CHECK)271272**Decision test:** _"Delete the DB and start fresh — does this data still need to exist?"_ Yes → **Seeder/fixture**. No → **Migration**.273274| Type | Contains | NEVER contains |275| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |276| **Seeder / Fixture** | Default records, system config, reference data (idempotent — safe to run every startup) | Schema changes |277| **Migration** | Schema changes, column adds/removes, data transforms, index changes | Default records, permission seeds, system config |278279Apply project's language/framework conventions. Principle universal — implementation project-specific.280281## Legacy Pattern Compliance282283When reviewing files with legacy and modern patterns:2842851. **Detect legacy signals** — search `project-config.json`, `package.json`, or equivalent for `"legacy"`, version flags, feature annotations2862. **Read what "legacy" means** — grep 3+ legacy files to understand pattern constraints vs. modern files2873. **Derive compliance rules** — what lifecycle/memory management differences exist between legacy/modern for this tech stack?2884. **Apply tech stack knowledge** to flag anti-patterns289290NEVER assume any specific framework's lifecycle. Derive from codebase evidence.291292## When to Use This Skill293294| Practice | Triggers | MUST ATTENTION READ |295| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------- |296| **Receiving Feedback** | Review comments received, feedback unclear/questionable, conflicts with existing decisions | `references/code-review-reception.md` |297| **Requesting Review** | After each subagent task, major feature done, targeted review scope, after complex bug fix | `references/requesting-code-review.md` |298| **Verification Gates** | Before any completion claim, commit, push, or PR. ANY success/satisfaction statement | `references/verification-before-completion.md` |299300## Quick Decision Tree301302```303SITUATION?304│305├─ Received feedback306│ ├─ Unclear items? → STOP, ask for clarification first307│ ├─ From human partner? → Understand, then implement308│ └─ From external reviewer? → Verify technically before implementing309│310├─ Completed work311│ ├─ Major feature/task? → Request code-reviewer subagent review312│ └─ Before merge? → Request code-reviewer subagent review313│314└─ About to claim status315 ├─ Have fresh verification? → State claim WITH evidence316 └─ No fresh verification? → RUN verification command first317```318319## Receiving Feedback Protocol320321**Pattern:** READ → UNDERSTAND → VERIFY → EVALUATE → RESPOND → IMPLEMENT322323- NEVER use performative agreement ("You're right!", "Great point!", "Thanks for...")324- NEVER implement before verification325- MUST ATTENTION restate requirement, ask questions, or push back with technical reasoning326- MUST ATTENTION ask for clarification on ALL unclear items BEFORE starting327- MUST ATTENTION grep for usage before implementing suggested "proper" features (YAGNI check)328329**Source handling:** Human partner → implement after understanding. External reviewer → verify technically, push back if wrong.330331**Full protocol:** `references/code-review-reception.md`332333## Requesting Review Protocol3343351. Get git SHAs: `BASE_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD~1)` and `HEAD_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD)`3362. Dispatch code-reviewer subagent with: WHAT_WAS_IMPLEMENTED, PLAN_OR_REQUIREMENTS, BASE_SHA, HEAD_SHA, DESCRIPTION3373. Act on feedback: Critical → fix immediately. Important → fix before proceeding. Minor → note for later.338339**Full protocol:** `references/requesting-code-review.md`340341## Verification Gates Protocol342343**Iron Law: NO COMPLETION CLAIMS WITHOUT FRESH VERIFICATION EVIDENCE**344345**Gate:** IDENTIFY command → RUN it → READ output → VERIFY it confirms claim → THEN claim. Skip any step = lying.346347| Claim | Required Evidence |348| ---------------- | ------------------------------- |349| Tests pass | Test output shows 0 failures |350| Build succeeds | Build command exit 0 |351| Bug fixed | Original symptom test passes |352| Requirements met | Line-by-line checklist verified |353354**Red Flags — STOP:** "should"/"probably"/"seems to", satisfaction before verification, committing without verification, trusting agent reports.355356**Full protocol:** `references/verification-before-completion.md`357358## Related359360- `code-simplifier`361- `debug-investigate`362- `refactoring`363364---365366## Systematic Review Protocol (10+ changed files)367368For large changesets: categorize files by concern → fire parallel `code-reviewer` sub-agents per category → synchronize findings → holistic assessment. See `review-changes/SKILL.md` § "Systematic Review Protocol" for full 4-step protocol.369370---371372## Workflow Recommendation373374> **MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION — NO EXCEPTIONS:** If NOT already in a workflow, use `AskUserQuestion` to ask user:375>376> 1. **Activate `workflow-review-changes` workflow** (Recommended) — full review → validated fix cycle → re-review until clean377> 2. **Execute `/code-review` directly** — run standalone378379---380381## Architecture Boundary Check382383For each changed file, verify no forbidden layer imports:3843851. **Read rules** from `docs/project-config.json` → `architectureRules.layerBoundaries`3862. **Determine layer** — match file path against each rule's `paths` glob patterns3873. **Scan imports** — grep for the configured language's import/include statements3884. **Check violations** — import path contains forbidden layer name → violation3895. **Exclude framework** — skip files matching `architectureRules.excludePatterns`3906. **BLOCK on violation** — `"BLOCKED: {layer} layer file {filePath} imports from {forbiddenLayer} ({importStatement})"`391392If `architectureRules` absent in project-config.json → skip silently.393394---395396## Phase 4: Why-Review Self-Validation Gate (MANDATORY when findings exist)397398> **Purpose:** Adversarial validation of own findings BEFORE handoff. Catches over-flagged Highs, false positives, and severity inflation at the source rather than letting them propagate downstream.399400**Trigger:** Any finding produced (Critical, High, Medium, OR Low). Skip ONLY when the report's verdict is unconditional PASS with literally zero findings.401402**Protocol:**4034041. Read own finalized report from `plans/reports/{skill}-{date}-{slug}.md`4052. Invoke `/why-review` skill with arg: `validate findings in plans/reports/{skill}-{date}-{slug}.md — verify each finding has file:line proof, steel-man each rejected interpretation, and stress-test severity classifications`4063. Read the validation verdict path returned by why-review, expected as `plans/reports/why-review-validate-{date}.md`4074. **If why-review demotes/removes any finding:** UPDATE own finalized report with revised severities, remove false positives, and add a `## Why-Review Validation Notes` section citing what changed and why4085. **If why-review confirms all findings:** Append `## Why-Review Validation` line to own report stating "All N findings re-validated against actual code; no severity changes."409410**Skip conditions (record explicit reason if skipping):**411412- Verdict is unconditional PASS with zero findings → log "Skipped — no findings to validate"413- Why-review skill itself is the active context (avoid recursion)414415**Why this exists:** AI sub-agent reports inherit confirmation bias — the orchestrator absorbs severity claims as ground truth. The 2026-05-09 review incident produced 5 Highs; adversarial validation demoted 3 of them. Codify this as standard practice.416417---418419## Next Steps420421**MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION — NO EXCEPTIONS** after completing, use `AskUserQuestion`:422423- **"/fix (Recommended)"** — review found issues needing fixes424- **"/watzup"** — review clean, wrap up session425- **"Skip, continue manually"** — user decides426427## AI Agent Integrity Gate (NON-NEGOTIABLE)428429**Completion ≠ Correctness.** Before reporting ANY work done:4304311. **Grep every removed name.** Extraction/rename/delete → grep confirms 0 dangling refs across ALL file types.4322. **Ask WHY before changing.** Existing values intentional until proven otherwise.4333. **Verify ALL outputs.** One build passing ≠ all builds passing.4344. **Evaluate pattern fit.** Copying nearby code? Verify preconditions match — scope, lifetime, base class, constraints.4355. **New artifact = wired artifact.** Created something? Prove it's registered, imported, reachable by all consumers.436437---438439> **[IMPORTANT]** Use `TaskCreate` to break ALL work into small tasks BEFORE starting — including tasks for each file read. This prevents context loss from long files. For simple tasks, AI MUST ATTENTION ask user whether to skip.440441> **Critical Purpose:** Ensure quality — no flaws, bugs, missing updates, stale content. Verify code AND documentation.442443> **External Memory:** Complex work → write findings incrementally to `plans/reports/` — prevents context loss, serves as deliverable.444445> **Evidence Gate:** MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION — every claim, finding, recommendation requires `file:line` proof + confidence % (>80% act, <80% verify first).446447> **OOP & DRY:** MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION — flag patterns extractable to base class/generic/helper. Same-suffix/lifecycle/responsibility classes MUST ATTENTION share common base. Apply idiomatic abstraction (base class, mixin, trait, protocol) for project's language. Verify linting/analyzer configured.448449<!-- SYNC:end-to-start-debugger-trace -->450451> **End-to-Start Debugger Trace** — For non-trivial bugs, failed verification, regression fixes, behavior-changing code, or unclear code flow, start from the observed final state and walk backward before proposing a fix.452>453> 1. **Frame 0: observed end state** — Name the exact user-visible output, failing assertion, log line, persisted value, API response, rendered UI, or aggregate bucket. Record the reader/query/renderer that produced it with `file:line` evidence.454> 2. **Walk backward one hop at a time** — Trace final reader -> projection/cache/storage -> writer -> consumer/handler/job -> producer/caller -> original trigger. At every hop record: input, transformation, output, owner, and evidence.455> 3. **Enumerate all feeder paths** — Find every upstream producer/caller/event/job that can write into the final path, including retry, async, cache, background, and alternate UI/API paths. Mark each path verified, ruled out, or still unknown.456> 4. **Build the hypothesis matrix** — For each plausible cause, list evidence for, evidence against, how to reproduce/verify, blast radius, and status (`primary`, `contributing`, `ruled out`, `latent`). Do not fix until competing causes are explicitly resolved or bounded.457> 5. **Choose the owning fix layer** — Identify the invariant owner and the lowest shared point that protects all downstream consumers. A fix at the symptom site is rejected unless the symptom site owns the invariant.458> 6. **Prove convergence forward** — After choosing the fix, walk start -> end again and show how the corrected state reaches the observed final output. Map each root cause to a fix part and each fix part to a test/proof.459>460> **BLOCKED until:** final state named · backward trace written · all feeder paths enumerated · hypothesis matrix completed · owning fix layer justified · forward convergence proof mapped to tests.461>462> **NEVER:** Start at the first suspicious code path. Collapse multiple producers into one "flow". Treat duplicate symptoms as duplicate records without proving the read model. Skip ruled-out hypotheses.463464<!-- /SYNC:end-to-start-debugger-trace -->465466<!-- SYNC:graph-assisted-investigation -->467468> **Graph-Assisted Investigation** — MANDATORY when `.code-graph/graph.db` exists.469>470> **HARD-GATE:** MUST ATTENTION run at least ONE graph command on key files before concluding any investigation.471>472> **Pattern:** Grep finds files → `trace --direction both` reveals full system flow → Grep verifies details473>474> | Task | Minimum Graph Action |475> | ------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |476> | Investigation/Scout | `trace --direction both` on 2-3 entry files |477> | Fix/Debug | `callers_of` on buggy function + `tests_for` |478> | Feature/Enhancement | `connections` on files to be modified |479> | Code Review | `tests_for` on changed functions |480> | Blast Radius | `trace --direction downstream` |481>482> **CLI:** `python .claude/scripts/code_graph {command} --json`. Use `--node-mode file` first (10-30x less noise), then `--node-mode function` for detail.483484<!-- /SYNC:graph-assisted-investigation -->485486<!-- SYNC:category-review-thinking -->487488> **Category Review Thinking** — For each category of changed files, think from first principles. Do NOT use a fixed checklist — derive concerns based on the category's domain.489>490> **Step 1: Understand the category's role**491> What is this category responsible for? What are its invariants? Who are its consumers (callers, dependents, downstream systems)?492>493> **Step 2: Read project conventions for this category**494> Grep 3+ existing similar files in this category. What patterns do they follow? What base classes/interfaces/abstractions do they use?495>496> **Step 3: Derive concerns from first principles**497> Given the category's role and invariants, what could go wrong? Start from universal concerns, then expand with category-specific knowledge:498>499> - Correctness: Does the change do what it claims? Are contracts maintained?500> - Contracts: Does the change preserve consumer-facing behavior?501> - Security: What trust assumptions does this category make? Are they still valid?502> - Performance: Does the change introduce O(n²), unbounded queries, or unnecessary I/O?503> - Maintainability: Does the change follow existing patterns? Does it introduce hidden coupling?504> - Tests: Is the changed behavior observable and testable?505> - Documentation: Does the change invalidate any existing docs or specs?506>507> These are starting points — your domain knowledge of the tech stack should expand this list. Do NOT limit yourself to what's listed above.508>509> **Step 4: Create sub-tasks and execute with file:line evidence**510> Convert derived concerns into concrete review tasks. Each task must produce `file:line` evidence. No findings without proof.511>512> **Examples of categories** (illustrative — NOT exhaustive):513>514> - Logic/domain files (business rules, handlers, services)515> - Data/schema files (migrations, models, ORM definitions)516> - API/contract files (controllers, routes, serializers, proto definitions)517> - Configuration/environment files (env vars, feature flags, secrets)518> - Infrastructure files (Dockerfiles, CI pipelines, manifests)519> - UI/style files (components, templates, stylesheets)520> - Test files (unit, integration, e2e)521> - Documentation files (markdown, specs, ADRs)522> - Security artifacts (auth middleware, permission definitions, crypto)523> - Tooling/build files (build configs, linting rules, dependency manifests)524525<!-- /SYNC:category-review-thinking -->526527<!-- SYNC:subagent-return-contract -->528529> **Sub-Agent Return Contract** — When this skill spawns a sub-agent, the sub-agent MUST return ONLY this structure. Main agent reads only this summary — NEVER requests full sub-agent output inline.530>531> ```markdown532> ## Sub-Agent Result: [skill-name]533>534> Status: ✅ PASS | ⚠️ PARTIAL | ❌ FAIL535> Confidence: [0-100]%536>537> ### Findings (Critical/High only — max 10 bullets)538>539> - [severity] [file:line] [finding]540>541> ### Actions Taken542>543> - [file changed] [what changed]544>545> ### Blockers (if any)546>547> - [blocker description]548>549> Full report: plans/reports/[skill-name]-[date]-[slug].md550> ```551>552> Main agent reads `Full report` file ONLY when: (a) resolving a specific blocker, or (b) building a fix plan.553> Sub-agent writes full report incrementally (per SYNC:incremental-persistence) — not held in memory.554555<!-- /SYNC:subagent-return-contract -->556557<!-- SYNC:nested-task-creation -->558559> **Nested Task Expansion Contract** — For workflow-step invocation, the `[Workflow] ...` row is only a parent container; the child skill still creates visible phase tasks.560>561> 1. Call `TaskList` first. If a matching active parent workflow row exists, set `nested=true` and record `parentTaskId`; otherwise run standalone.562> 2. Create one task per declared phase before phase work. When nested, prefix subjects `[N.M] $skill-name — phase`.563> 3. When nested, link the parent with `TaskUpdate(parentTaskId, addBlockedBy: [childIds])`.564> 4. Orchestrators must pre-expand a child skill's phase list and link the workflow row before invoking that child skill or sub-agent.565> 5. Mark exactly one child `in_progress` before work and `completed` immediately after evidence is written.566> 6. Complete the parent only after all child tasks are completed or explicitly cancelled with reason.567>568> **Blocked until:** `TaskList` done, child phases created, parent linked when nested, first child marked `in_progress`.569570<!-- /SYNC:nested-task-creation -->571572<!-- SYNC:project-reference-docs-guide -->573574> **Project Reference Docs Gate** — Run after task-tracking bootstrap and before target/source file reads, grep, edits, or analysis. Project docs override generic framework assumptions.575>576> 1. Identify scope: file types, domain area, and operation.577> 2. Required docs by trigger: always `docs/project-reference/lessons.md`; doc lookup `docs-index-reference.md`; review `code-review-rules.md`; backend/CQRS/API `backend-patterns-reference.md`; domain/entity `domain-entities-reference.md`; frontend/UI `frontend-patterns-reference.md`; styles/design `scss-styling-guide.md` + `design-system/design-system-canonical.md`; integration tests `integration-test-reference.md`; E2E `e2e-test-reference.md`; feature docs/specs `feature-spec-reference.md` + `spec-system-reference.md` + `spec-principles.md`; behavior/public-contract/spec-test-code sync `workflow-spec-test-code-cycle-reference.md`; derived spec index/ERD/reimplementation guides `spec-system-reference.md` + source Feature Specs under `docs/specs/`; architecture/new area `project-structure-reference.md`.578> 3. Rea579580…(truncated)