Pre-merge review checklist based on recurring AI reviewer feedback patterns
Install with the open skills CLI (global, non-interactive — available in every Claude Code session):
npx skills add nearai/ironclaw --skill "review-checklist" -g -a claude-code -yOr manually — copy the SKILL.md below into:
~/.claude/skills/review-checklist/SKILL.md---
name: review-checklist
version: 0.1.0
description: Pre-merge review checklist based on recurring AI reviewer feedback patterns
activation:
patterns:
- "review.*checklist"
- "ready to merge"
- "pre-merge check"
- "check.*before.*merge"
keywords:
- review
- checklist
- merge
- pre-merge
max_context_tokens: 1500
---
# Pre-Merge Review Checklist
Before merging, verify these items. They represent the most common issues caught by automated code reviewers (Copilot, Gemini) on IronClaw PRs.
## Database Operations
- [ ] Multi-step DB operations are wrapped in transactions (INSERT+INSERT, UPDATE+DELETE, read-modify-write)
- [ ] Both postgres AND libsql backends updated for any new Database trait methods
- [ ] Migrations are atomic (SQL execution + version recording in same transaction)
## Security & Data Safety
- [ ] Tool parameters are redacted via `redact_params()` before logging or SSE/WebSocket broadcast
- [ ] URL validation resolves DNS before checking for private/loopback IPs (anti-SSRF via DNS rebinding)
- [ ] Destructive tools have `requires_approval()` returning `Always` or `UnlessAutoApproved`
- [ ] Data from worker containers is treated as untrusted (tool domain checks, server-side nesting depth)
- [ ] No secrets or credentials in error messages, logs, or SSE events
## String Safety
- [ ] No byte-index slicing (`&s[..n]`) on external/user strings -- use `is_char_boundary()` or `char_indices()`
- [ ] File extension and media type comparisons are case-insensitive (`.to_ascii_lowercase()` before matching)
- [ ] Path comparisons are case-insensitive where needed (macOS/Windows filesystems)
## Trait Wrappers & Decorator Chain
- [ ] New `LlmProvider` trait methods are delegated in ALL wrapper types (grep `impl LlmProvider for`)
- [ ] New trait methods are tested through the full decorator/provider chain, not just the base impl
- [ ] Default trait method implementations are intentional -- wrappers that silently return defaults are bugs
## Tests
- [ ] Temporary files/dirs use `tempfile` crate, no hardcoded `/tmp/` paths
- [ ] Tests don't mutate global statics without synchronization (use per-test state or `serial_test`)
- [ ] Tests don't make real network requests (use mocks, stubs, or RFC 5737 TEST-NET IPs like 192.0.2.1)
- [ ] Test names and comments match actual test behavior and assertions
## Comments & Documentation
- [ ] Code comments match actual behavior (especially route paths, tool names, function semantics)
- [ ] Spec/README files updated if module behavior changed
- [ ] Error messages are clear and non-redundant (don't nest tool name inside tool error that already contains it)
Use when completing tasks, implementing major features, or before merging to verify work meets requirements
Use when implementing any feature or bugfix, before writing implementation code
Use when about to claim work is complete, fixed, or passing, before committing or creating PRs - requires running verification commands and confirming output before making any success claims; evidence before assertions always