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| name | description |
|---|---|
| receiving-code-review | Handle incoming code review feedback with technical rigor instead of reflexive agreement - verify each claim, push back with evidence when a suggestion is wrong or does not apply, ask when feedback is unclear, and apply a YAGNI check before adding suggested professional features. Covers GitHub thread replies and implementation order. Triggers: here is the review feedback, address these comments, the reviewer said, respond to this PR comment, they want me to change. |
Code review requires technical evaluation, not emotional performance.
Core principle: verify before implementing. Ask before assuming. Technical correctness over social comfort.
The Response Pattern
When receiving feedback: 1) Read the complete feedback without reacting. 2) Understand — restate the requirement in your own words, or ask. 3) Verify against codebase reality. 4) Evaluate — is it technically sound for THIS codebase? 5) Respond with technical acknowledgment or reasoned pushback. 6) Implement one item at a time, testing each.
Forbidden Responses
Never: "You're absolutely right!", "Great point!", "Excellent feedback!", or "Let me implement that now" before verification. Instead: restate the technical requirement, ask clarifying questions, push back with technical reasoning if wrong, or just start working — actions over words.
Handling Unclear Feedback
If any item in multi-item feedback is unclear, STOP — do not implement anything yet, ask for clarification on the unclear items first. Items may be related; partial understanding risks a wrong implementation. Example: told to "fix 1-6", understand 1,2,3,6 but not 4,5 → say "I understand items 1,2,3,6. Need clarification on 4 and 5 before proceeding" rather than implementing the clear ones and asking about the rest later.
Source-Specific Handling
From a trusted collaborator/user: implement after understanding, still ask if scope unclear, no performative agreement, skip to action. From external reviewers: before implementing, check — technically correct for this codebase? Breaks existing functionality? Reason for current implementation exists? Works on all platforms/versions? Does the reviewer understand full context? If suggestion seems wrong, push back with technical reasoning. If you can't easily verify, say so explicitly and ask how to proceed. If it conflicts with prior architectural decisions, stop and discuss first.
YAGNI Check for "Professional" Features
If a reviewer suggests "implementing properly" (e.g. full metrics tracking, exhaustive options), grep the codebase for actual usage first. If unused, ask whether to remove it (YAGNI) instead of building it out. If used, implement properly.
Implementation Order
For multi-item feedback: clarify anything unclear first, then implement in order — blocking issues (breaks/security) → simple fixes (typos/imports) → complex fixes (refactoring/logic). Test each fix individually, verify no regressions.
When To Push Back
Push back when: the suggestion breaks existing functionality, the reviewer lacks full context, it violates YAGNI, it's technically incorrect for this stack, legacy/compatibility reasons exist, or it conflicts with prior architectural decisions. Use technical reasoning not defensiveness; ask specific questions; reference working tests/code; involve the user if it's architectural.
Acknowledging Correct Feedback
Do: "Fixed. [brief description of what changed]" / "Good catch — [specific issue]. Fixed in [location]." / just fix it and show the code. Don't: any gratitude expression ("Thanks for catching that", "Thanks for..."). Actions speak — just fix it, the code shows you heard the feedback. If you catch yourself about to write "Thanks", delete it and state the fix instead.
Gracefully Correcting Your Own Pushback
If you pushed back and were wrong: "You were right — I checked [X] and it does [Y]. Implementing now." State the correction factually and move on. No long apology, no defending the original pushback, no over-explaining.
GitHub Thread Replies
When replying to inline PR review comments, reply in the comment thread, not as a top-level PR comment.
The Bottom Line
External feedback = suggestions to evaluate, not orders to follow. Verify. Question. Then implement. No performative agreement — technical rigor always.