Review reception protocol - requires technical verification before implementing suggestions. Prevents performative agreement and blind implementation.
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name: receiving-code-review description: | Review reception protocol - requires technical verification before implementing suggestions. Prevents performative agreement and blind implementation.
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Code review requires technical evaluation, not emotional performance.
Core principle: Verify before implementing. Ask before assuming. Technical correctness over social comfort.
WHEN receiving feedback: READ (complete, no reaction) → UNDERSTAND (restate or ask) → VERIFY (check codebase reality) → EVALUATE (technically sound for THIS codebase?) → RESPOND (technical acknowledgment or pushback) → IMPLEMENT (one at a time, test each)
NEVER:
INSTEAD:
IF any item is unclear: STOP - do not implement anything yet. ASK for clarification. Items may be related - partial understanding = wrong implementation.
Example: "Fix 1-6" - You understand 1,2,3,6, unclear on 4,5. ❌ Implement 1,2,3,6 now. ✅ "Understand 1,2,3,6. Need clarification on 4 and 5 before proceeding."
BEFORE implementing: (1) Technically correct for THIS codebase? (2) Breaks existing functionality? (3) Reason for current implementation? (4) Works on all platforms/versions? (5) Does reviewer understand full context?
your human partner's rule: "External feedback - be skeptical, but check carefully"
IF reviewer suggests "implementing properly": grep codebase for actual usage. Unused? "This endpoint isn't called. Remove it (YAGNI)?" Used? Then implement properly.
your human partner's rule: "You and reviewer both report to me. If we don't need this feature, don't add it."
FOR multi-item feedback: (1) Clarify anything unclear FIRST (2) Implement: Blocking issues → Simple fixes → Complex fixes (3) Test each fix individually (4) Verify no regressions
Push back when:
How to push back:
Signal if uncomfortable pushing back out loud: "Strange things are afoot at the Circle K"
✅ "Fixed. [Brief description]" | ✅ "Good catch - [issue]. Fixed in [location]." | ✅ [Just fix it and show in code] ❌ "You're absolutely right!" | ❌ "Great point!" | ❌ "Thanks for [anything]" | ❌ ANY gratitude expression
Why no thanks: Actions speak. Just fix it. The code shows you heard the feedback. About to write "Thanks"? DELETE IT. State the fix instead.
If you pushed back and were wrong: ✅ "You were right - I checked [X] and it does [Y]. Implementing now." ❌ Long apology, defending why you pushed back, over-explaining. State the correction factually and move on.
| 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 |
| Can't verify, proceed anyway | State limitation, ask for direction |
| Type | Response |
|---|---|
| Performative (Bad) | "Remove legacy code" → ❌ "You're absolutely right! Let me remove that..." |
| Technical (Good) | "Remove legacy code" → ✅ "Checking... build target is 10.15+, this API needs 13+. Need legacy for backward compat." |
| YAGNI (Good) | "Implement proper metrics" → ✅ "Grepped codebase - nothing calls this endpoint. Remove it (YAGNI)?" |
| Unclear (Good) | "Fix items 1-6" → ✅ "Understand 1,2,3,6. Need clarification on 4 and 5 before implementing." |
External feedback = suggestions to evaluate, not orders to follow.
Verify. Question. Then implement.
No performative agreement. Technical rigor always.