reviewing-prs

name	reviewing-prs
description	General workflow for fetching, inspecting, reviewing GitHub Pull Requests using the gh CLI, drafting user-aligned review comments, and securing approval before posting. Use when asked to review a GitHub PR or pull request.

Reviewing Pull Requests

This skill outlines the workflow for inspecting GitHub Pull Requests using the gh CLI, drafting review feedback, and securing user approval before posting review comments.

Approval Safeguard (Strict Requirement)

[!IMPORTANT] NEVER post comments or reviews to GitHub without explicit prior user approval. Always present draft review comments to the user in natural language first. Only execute write commands (gh pr comment, gh pr review) after the user approves.

Workflow

1. Request Information via GitHub CLI

• PR Details:

  gh pr view <pr-number> --repo <owner/repo> --json title,body,author,state,headRefName,baseRefName,comments,reviews,files
  

• Code Diff:

  gh pr diff <pr-number> --repo <owner/repo>
  

• Existing Inline Comments:

  gh api repos/<owner/repo>/pulls/<pr-number>/comments
  

• CI / Status Checks:

  gh pr checks <pr-number> --repo <owner/repo>
  

2. Inspect Context & Prior Feedback

• Read the PR description, linked issues, and full diff.
• Verify whether existing bot or human comments have already been addressed in subsequent commits.

3. Draft Review Comments

• Keep comments direct, concise, and focused on code quality and correctness.
• Approvals: Keep comments concise (LGTM or A couple comments but lgtm.). Avoid fluffy praise or re-summarizing the PR.
• Actionable Feedback: Reference specific files, line numbers, and rationale when leaving suggestions.

4. Present Draft & Post Only Upon User Approval

[!IMPORTANT] NEVER post comments or reviews to GitHub without explicit prior user approval.

1. Present the drafted review comments to the user in your response window.
2. Ask for confirmation: "Would you like me to submit this review to GitHub?"
3. Once explicitly approved by the user, post the review:

   gh pr review <pr-number> --repo <owner/repo> --comment --body "<approved review text>"