name: code-review-checklist
description: Generates comprehensive, context-aware code review checklists tailored to the specific codebase, programming language, and team standards. Analyzes PR diffs and suggests what reviewers should focus on.
category: Code Quality & Testing
tags:
- code-review
- quality
- checklist
- pr-review
- best-practices
allowed-tools: Read, Grep, Glob

Code Review Checklist Generator

Generate thorough, contextual code review checklists that help reviewers focus on what matters most for each specific PR.

When to Use

• Before starting a code review to know what to look for
• When onboarding new team members to review standards
• To ensure consistent review quality across the team
• When reviewing unfamiliar parts of the codebase

Approach

1. Analyze the Diff: Understand what files changed and the nature of changes
2. Identify Patterns: Detect the type of change (feature, bugfix, refactor, etc.)
3. Language-Specific Checks: Apply relevant checks for the programming language
4. Project Context: Consider existing patterns and conventions in the codebase
5. Generate Checklist: Produce prioritized, actionable review items

Checklist Categories

Security

• [ ] Input validation present
• [ ] No hardcoded secrets or credentials
• [ ] Proper authentication/authorization checks
• [ ] SQL injection prevention
• [ ] XSS prevention for web code

Performance

• [ ] No N+1 query patterns
• [ ] Appropriate caching considered
• [ ] No unnecessary loops or iterations
• [ ] Efficient data structures used

Maintainability

• [ ] Code is readable and self-documenting
• [ ] Functions are appropriately sized
• [ ] No code duplication
• [ ] Consistent naming conventions

Testing

• [ ] Unit tests cover new functionality
• [ ] Edge cases are tested
• [ ] Tests are meaningful, not just for coverage

Best Practices

• Prioritize security issues first
• Focus on logic errors over style nitpicks
• Consider the reviewer's time - highlight critical items
• Adapt checklist to project maturity level