gitlab-mr-review

name	Gitlab MR Review
description	Gitlab MR Review
category	general

---

name: gitlab-mr-review description: Use when asked to review a GitLab merge request URL - efficiently checks out code with wtm, gathers context from GitLab and Asana, and performs deep code review using the requesting-code-review skill

GitLab Merge Request Review

Overview

Efficient workflow for reviewing GitLab merge requests: extract MR number, gather context in parallel (glab + Asana if linked), checkout code with wtm, and perform deep review using code-review skill.

When to Use

• User provides a GitLab MR URL like https://gitlab.com/org/repo/-/merge_requests/1234
• User asks to "review MR 1234" for tracktile project
• Need to understand and review code changes with full context

Workflow

Step 1: Extract MR Number

# From URL: https://gitlab.com/sharokenstudio/tracktile/tracktile/-/merge_requests/3386
# MR number is: 3386

Step 2: Get MR Metadata First

cd ~/tracktile/prerelease && glab mr view 3386

Extract from output:

• Source branch name (e.g., feature/new-auth-flow)
• MR title and description
• Check description for Asana links (e.g., https://app.asana.com/0/1234567890/9876543210)

Step 3: Checkout Code & Get Asana Context (PARALLEL)

CRITICAL: Run these in parallel in a SINGLE message with multiple tool calls:

Parallel Task 1 - Checkout or update branch:

Check if worktree already exists:

if [ -d ~/tracktile/feature/new-auth-flow ]; then
  cd ~/tracktile/feature/new-auth-flow && git pull
else
  cd ~/tracktile && wtm checkout feature/new-auth-flow
fi

Logic:

• If worktree exists: cd into it and git pull to update
• If worktree doesn't exist: Use wtm checkout BRANCH_NAME to create it

Exact wtm command syntax:

• ✅ CORRECT: wtm checkout BRANCH_NAME
• ❌ WRONG: wtm BRANCH_NAME
• ❌ WRONG: wtm add BRANCH_NAME
• ❌ WRONG: wtm list

What wtm does (when creating new worktree):

• Creates worktree at ~/tracktile/BRANCH_NAME/
• Auto-installs node_modules (via post_create hook)
• Auto-sets up .env files (via post_create hook)
• Example path: ~/tracktile/feature/new-auth-flow/

Parallel Task 2 - Get Asana context (if link found in Step 2):

While wtm runs, use Asana MCP in parallel:

• Extract task ID from URL https://app.asana.com/0/1234567890/9876543210 → 9876543210
• Call mcp__asana__asana_get_task with task_id: "9876543210"
• Get requirements, acceptance criteria, context

Wait for both tasks to complete before proceeding to Step 4.

Step 4: Switch to Worktree Directory

cd ~/tracktile/feature/new-auth-flow/

Critical:

• Path format is ~/tracktile/BRANCH_NAME/ (note the trailing slash)
• Example: if branch is feature/new-auth-flow, path is ~/tracktile/feature/new-auth-flow/
• You MUST cd into this directory before code review

Step 5: Deep Code Review

MANDATORY: Invoke superpowers:requesting-code-review skill using Skill tool.

Pass this context to the skill:

• MR description and intent from glab
• Asana task requirements (if applicable)
• Discussion comments from glab

Do NOT:

• Create manual review checklist
• Run additional git commands (git diff, git log) - skill handles this
• Read files manually - skill does this
• Invoke wrong skill names like code-review or superpowers:code-reviewer

The requesting-code-review skill handles:

• Finding and reading all changed files
• Code quality analysis
• Security review
• Test coverage
• Architecture patterns
• Performance concerns

Quick Reference

Step	Command	Purpose
1	Extract MR number from URL	Get "3386"
2a	glab mr view 3386	Get metadata + branch name + check for Asana
2b	wtm checkout BRANCH	Setup worktree (auto-installs deps)
2c	Get Asana task (if linked)	Get requirements context
3	cd ~/tracktile/BRANCH	Switch to worktree
4	Invoke code-review skill	Deep review with context

Common Mistakes

❌ Running commands sequentially

• Don't wait for glab to finish before starting wtm
• Start gathering context while wtm installs deps

❌ Not checking if worktree already exists

• Always check if ~/tracktile/BRANCH_NAME/ exists
• If exists: cd into it and git pull to update
• If doesn't exist: Use wtm checkout BRANCH_NAME

❌ Forgetting to switch to worktree directory

• After wtm checkout feature-branch, you MUST cd ~/tracktile/feature-branch/
• Code review must happen in the worktree, not main directory

❌ Skipping Asana context

• Always check MR description for Asana links
• Requirements and acceptance criteria live in Asana
• Missing this means reviewing code without knowing what it should do

❌ Manual review instead of using code-review skill

• Don't create your own checklist
• The code-review skill has comprehensive methodology
• Use it with all the context you gathered

❌ Using wrong repository path

• Commands assume ~/tracktile for tracktile project (bare repo setup)
• Worktrees are at ~/tracktile/BRANCH_NAME/

Example: Complete Flow

User: "Review this MR: https://gitlab.com/sharokenstudio/tracktile/tracktile/-/merge_requests/3386"

You:
1. Extract MR number: 3386
2. Run in parallel:
   - glab mr view 3386 → Get branch name "feature/new-auth" + check description
   - Found Asana link in description → Get task context
   - wtm checkout feature/new-auth → Setup worktree
3. cd ~/tracktile/feature/new-auth
4. Use code-review skill with context:
   - MR intent: "Implements new auth flow"
   - Asana requirements: [acceptance criteria from task]
   - Discussion: [any comments from glab]

Real-World Impact

• Parallel execution saves 2-3 minutes per review
• Asana context prevents missing requirements
• wtm auto-setup eliminates manual dependency installation
• code-review skill ensures consistent, thorough reviews