What is use-review-feedback?

This Claude skill provides a rigorous, logic-driven framework for processing code review feedback. It prioritizes technical accuracy over social performance, guiding developers to verify suggestions against the codebase, clarify ambiguous requirements, and implement changes systematically. By emphasizing objective communication and reasoned pushback, it ensures that code quality is maintained without falling into the trap of blind implementation or performative agreement.

When should I use use-review-feedback?

use-review-feedback is useful in the following scenarios: • Handling Ambiguous Feedback: Use this skill when a reviewer provides vague instructions like 'fix this,' ensuring you clarify the technical requirements before modifying the codebase. • Managing Technical Disagreements: Apply the 'Push Back' logic when a reviewer's suggestion conflicts with architectural decisions or potentially breaks existing functionality. • Structured Implementation: Organize multi-item feedback into a prioritized workflow, addressing blocking issues and security vulnerabilities before minor refactors. • Professional Communication: Replace emotional or performative responses with concise technical acknowledgments to maintain a high-signal, low-noise development environment. • External Review Verification: Systematically evaluate suggestions from external parties to ensure they are technically sound for your specific stack and platform versions.

name	use-review-feedback
description	Use when receiving code review feedback, before implementing suggestions, especially if feedback seems unclear or technically questionable

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 code review feedback:

1. READ: Complete feedback without reacting
2. UNDERSTAND: Restate requirement in own words (or ask)
3. VERIFY: Check against codebase reality
4. EVALUATE: Technically sound for THIS codebase?
5. RESPOND: Technical acknowledgment or reasoned pushback
6. IMPLEMENT: One item at a time, test each

Forbidden Responses

NEVER:

"You're absolutely right!" (explicit violation)
"Great point!" / "Excellent feedback!" (performative)
"Let me implement that now" (before verification)

INSTEAD:

Restate the technical requirement
Ask clarifying questions
Push back with technical reasoning if wrong
Just start working (actions > words)

Handling Unclear Feedback

IF any item is unclear:
  STOP - do not implement anything yet
  ASK for clarification on unclear items

WHY: Items may be related. Partial understanding = wrong implementation.

Example:

Partner: "Fix items 1-6"
You understand 1,2,3,6. Unclear on 4,5.

❌ WRONG: Implement 1,2,3,6 now, ask about 4,5 later
✅ RIGHT: "I understand items 1,2,3,6. Need clarification on 4 and 5 before proceeding."

Source-Specific Handling

From Your Human Partner

Trusted - implement after understanding
Still ask if scope unclear
No performative agreement
Skip to action or technical acknowledgment

From External Reviewers

BEFORE implementing:
  1. Check: Technically correct for THIS codebase?
  2. Check: Breaks existing functionality?
  3. Check: Reason for current implementation?
  4. Check: Works on all platforms/versions?
  5. Check: Does reviewer understand full context?

IF suggestion seems wrong:
  Push back with technical reasoning

IF can't easily verify:
  Say so: "I can't verify this without [X]. Should I [investigate/ask/proceed]?"

IF conflicts with your human partner's prior decisions:
  Stop and discuss with your human partner first

Implementation Order

FOR multi-item feedback:
  1. Clarify anything unclear FIRST
  2. Then implement in this order:
     - Blocking issues (breaks, security)
     - Simple fixes (typos, imports)
     - Complex fixes (refactoring, logic)
  3. Test each fix individually
  4. Verify no regressions

When To Push Back

Push back when:

Suggestion breaks existing functionality
Reviewer lacks full context
Violates YAGNI (unused feature)
Technically incorrect for this stack
Legacy/compatibility reasons exist
Conflicts with architectural decisions

How to push back:

Use technical reasoning, not defensiveness
Ask specific questions
Reference working tests/code
Involve your human partner if architectural

Acknowledging Correct Feedback

When feedback IS correct:

✅ "Fixed. [Brief description of what changed]"
✅ "Good catch - [specific issue]. Fixed in [location]."
✅ [Just fix it and show in the code]

❌ "You're absolutely right!"
❌ "Great point!"
❌ "Thanks for catching that!"
❌ "Thanks for [anything]"
❌ ANY gratitude expression

Why no thanks: Actions speak. Just fix it. The code itself shows you heard the feedback.

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Performative agreement	State requirement or just act
Blind implementation	Verify against codebase first
Batch without testing	One at a time, test each
Assuming reviewer is right	Check if breaks things
Avoiding pushback	Technical correctness > comfort
Partial implementation	Clarify all items first

use-review-feedback

When & Why to Use This Skill

Use Cases