John Carmack-level implementation review via RepoPrompt or Codex. Use when reviewing code changes, PRs, or implementations. Triggers on /flow-next:impl-review.
Content & Writing
537 Stars
36 Forks
Updated Feb 3, 2026, 09:14 PM
Why Use This
This skill provides specialized capabilities for gmickel's codebase.
Use Cases
Developing new features in the gmickel repository
Refactoring existing code to follow gmickel standards
Understanding and working with gmickel's codebase structure
---
name: flow-next-impl-review
description: John Carmack-level implementation review via RepoPrompt or Codex. Use when reviewing code changes, PRs, or implementations. Triggers on /flow-next:impl-review.
user-invocable: false
---
# Implementation Review Mode
**Read [workflow.md](workflow.md) for detailed phases and anti-patterns.**
Conduct a John Carmack-level review of implementation changes on the current branch.
**Role**: Code Review Coordinator (NOT the reviewer)
**Backends**: RepoPrompt (rp) or Codex CLI (codex)
**CRITICAL: flowctl is BUNDLED — NOT installed globally.** `which flowctl` will fail (expected). Always use:
```bash
FLOWCTL="${DROID_PLUGIN_ROOT:-${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}}/scripts/flowctl"
```
## Backend Selection
**Priority** (first match wins):
1. `--review=rp|codex|export|none` argument
2. `FLOW_REVIEW_BACKEND` env var (`rp`, `codex`, `none`)
3. `.flow/config.json` → `review.backend`
4. **Error** - no auto-detection
### Parse from arguments first
Check $ARGUMENTS for:
- `--review=rp` or `--review rp` → use rp
- `--review=codex` or `--review codex` → use codex
- `--review=export` or `--review export` → use export
- `--review=none` or `--review none` → skip review
If found, use that backend and skip all other detection.
### Otherwise read from config
```bash
BACKEND=$($FLOWCTL review-backend)
if [[ "$BACKEND" == "ASK" ]]; then
echo "Error: No review backend configured."
echo "Run /flow-next:setup to configure, or pass --review=rp|codex|none"
exit 1
fi
echo "Review backend: $BACKEND (override: --review=rp|codex|none)"
```
## Critical Rules
**For rp backend:**
1. **DO NOT REVIEW CODE YOURSELF** - you coordinate, RepoPrompt reviews
2. **MUST WAIT for actual RP response** - never simulate/skip the review
3. **MUST use `setup-review`** - handles window selection + builder atomically
4. **DO NOT add --json flag to chat-send** - it suppresses the review response
5. **Re-reviews MUST stay in SAME chat** - omit `--new-chat` after first review
**For codex backend:**
1. Use `$FLOWCTL codex impl-review` exclusively
2. Pass `--receipt` for session continuity on re-reviews
3. Parse verdict from command output
**For all backends:**
- If `REVIEW_RECEIPT_PATH` set: write receipt after review (any verdict)
- Any failure → output `<promise>RETRY</promise>` and stop
**FORBIDDEN**:
- Self-declaring SHIP without actual backend verdict
- Mixing backends mid-review (stick to one)
- Skipping review when backend is "none" without user consent
## Input
Arguments: $ARGUMENTS
Format: `[task ID] [--base <commit>] [focus areas]`
- `--base <commit>` - Compare against this commit instead of main/master (for task-scoped reviews)
- Task ID - Optional, for context and receipt tracking
- Focus areas - Optional, specific areas to examine
**Scope behavior:**
- With `--base`: Reviews only changes since that commit (task-scoped)
- Without `--base`: Reviews entire branch vs main/master (full branch review)
## Workflow
**See [workflow.md](workflow.md) for full details on each backend.**
```bash
FLOWCTL="${DROID_PLUGIN_ROOT:-${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}}/scripts/flowctl"
REPO_ROOT="$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || pwd)"
```
### Step 0: Parse Arguments
Parse $ARGUMENTS for:
- `--base <commit>` → `BASE_COMMIT` (if provided, use for scoped diff)
- First positional arg matching `fn-*` → `TASK_ID`
- Remaining args → focus areas
If `--base` not provided, `BASE_COMMIT` stays empty (will fall back to main/master).
### Step 1: Detect Backend
Run backend detection from SKILL.md above. Then branch:
### Codex Backend
```bash
RECEIPT_PATH="${REVIEW_RECEIPT_PATH:-/tmp/impl-review-receipt.json}"
# Use BASE_COMMIT if provided, else fall back to main
if [[ -n "$BASE_COMMIT" ]]; then
$FLOWCTL codex impl-review "$TASK_ID" --base "$BASE_COMMIT" --receipt "$RECEIPT_PATH"
else
$FLOWCTL codex impl-review "$TASK_ID" --base main --receipt "$RECEIPT_PATH"
fi
# Output includes VERDICT=SHIP|NEEDS_WORK|MAJOR_RETHINK
```
On NEEDS_WORK: fix code, commit, re-run (receipt enables session continuity).
### RepoPrompt Backend
**⚠️ STOP: You MUST read and execute [workflow.md](workflow.md) now.**
Go to the "RepoPrompt Backend Workflow" section in workflow.md and execute those steps. Do not proceed here until workflow.md phases are complete.
The workflow covers:
1. Identify changes (use `BASE_COMMIT` if provided)
2. Atomic setup (setup-review) → sets `$W` and `$T`
3. Augment selection and build review prompt
4. Send review and parse verdict
**Return here only after workflow.md execution is complete.**
## Fix Loop (INTERNAL - do not exit to Ralph)
**CRITICAL: Do NOT ask user for confirmation. Automatically fix ALL valid issues and re-review — our goal is production-grade world-class software and architecture. Never use AskUserQuestion in this loop.**
If verdict is NEEDS_WORK, loop internally until SHIP:
1. **Parse issues** from reviewer feedback (Critical → Major → Minor)
2. **Fix code** and run tests/lints
3. **Commit fixes** (mandatory before re-review)
4. **Re-review**:
- **Codex**: Re-run `flowctl codex impl-review` (receipt enables context)
- **RP**: `$FLOWCTL rp chat-send --window "$W" --tab "$T" --message-file /tmp/re-review.md` (NO `--new-chat`)
5. **Repeat** until `<verdict>SHIP</verdict>`
**CRITICAL**: For RP, re-reviews must stay in the SAME chat so reviewer has context. Only use `--new-chat` on the FIRST review.