---
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 `RETRY` 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: $ARGUMENTS
Format: `[task ID] [--base ] [focus areas]`
- `--base ` - Compare against this commit instead of main/master (for task-scoped reviews)
- Task ID - Optional, for context and receipt tracking
- Focus areas - Optional, specific areas to examine
**Scope behavior:**
- With `--base`: Reviews only changes since that commit (task-scoped)
- Without `--base`: Reviews entire branch vs main/master (full branch review)
## Workflow
**See [workflow.md](workflow.md) for full details on each backend.**
```bash
FLOWCTL="${DROID_PLUGIN_ROOT:-${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}}/scripts/flowctl"
REPO_ROOT="$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || pwd)"
```
### Step 0: Parse Arguments
Parse $ARGUMENTS for:
- `--base ` → `BASE_COMMIT` (if provided, use for scoped diff)
- First positional arg matching `fn-*` → `TASK_ID`
- Remaining args → focus areas
If `--base` not provided, `BASE_COMMIT` stays empty (will fall back to main/master).
### Step 1: Detect Backend
Run backend detection from SKILL.md above. Then branch:
### Codex Backend
```bash
RECEIPT_PATH="${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 `SHIP`
**CRITICAL**: For RP, re-reviews must stay in the SAME chat so reviewer has context. Only use `--new-chat` on the FIRST review.