Local Reviewer
VS Code extension for local code review with inline comments. Review git diffs, leave comments, hand them off to an AI agent — all without pushing to GitHub.
Note: this extension is my experiment on fully "vibe coding" an app. It is working and I have been using it. It is mostly based from https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-pull-request-github
see quick demo video below
Install Locally
npm run package
code --install-extension local-reviewer-<version>.vsix # VS Code
kiro --install-extension local-reviewer-<version>.vsix # Kiro
Reload: Cmd+Shift+P → Developer: Reload Window
Scenarios
1. You review AI-generated code
The agent implemented a feature. You review its changes and give feedback.
Start Review
→ Dropdown: pick what to diff
"All changes" everything vs main/master
"Staged changes" only git add-ed files
"Uncommitted" working tree vs HEAD
"Pick a commit" one specific commit
"Pick a base branch" diff vs another branch
→ First diff editor opens, file list appears in sidebar
Click any line → type comment → Save Comment
Submit Review → paste prompt into agent chat → agent applies feedback
2. AI agent reviews your code — one command
Quick Agent Review
→ Opens all changes diff + copies full context prompt to clipboard
Paste into agent → agent writes comment files → appear instantly in VS Code
Create tmp/review-guidelines.md once per project to set your review style.
3. Multi-round conversation
You comment → Submit → agent replies → reply appears in thread
You reply in thread → Copy Follow-up Prompt → paste → agent continues
4. Resume after restart
Extension auto-restores your session on startup. All comment threads re-appear.
5. Start fresh
New Review → confirm → pick new diff → clean slate
Commands
| Command |
What it does |
| Start Review |
Pick diff scope, open first diff editor + sidebar |
| Quick Agent Review |
All changes + copy full context prompt in one step |
| New Review |
Discard everything, start over |
| Show Changed Files |
Focus the sidebar file tree |
| Submit Review |
Copy feedback prompt to clipboard |
| Export Review |
Save tmp/review-<timestamp>.md |
| Copy Comment |
Copy single comment block |
Next Changed File (alt+]) |
Cycle through files, skipping already-viewed |
| Toggle File Viewed |
Mark/unmark a file as reviewed |
| Copy Review Prompt |
Agent mechanics + diff (for agent to review your code) |
| Copy Follow-up Prompt |
Short "continue the conversation" instruction |
| Copy Full Context Prompt |
Guidelines + mechanics + diff |
The $(comment-discussion) icon in the activity bar opens Local Reviewer. Shows:
- All changed files with M/A/D/R status badges
(N) comment count per file$(pass) icon for reviewed files- Click any file → opens its diff editor
Review Guidelines
Create tmp/review-guidelines.md to set your review style:
- Be strict about error handling — no silent catches
- Prefer explicit types over any
- Flag missing test coverage
- No console.log in production code
Included automatically with Copy Full Context Prompt and Quick Agent Review.
File Layout
tmp/
local-review.json ← review session (auto-saved, auto-restored)
review-guidelines.md ← your review preferences (you create this)
review-<timestamp>.md ← exported reviews
agent-comments/ ← agent writes new comments here
agent-replies/ ← agent writes replies here
Agent Protocol
Agent leaves comments by writing files:
New comment: tmp/agent-comments/<any-name>.json
{
"filePath": "src/api.ts",
"lineNumber": 41,
"text": "No error handling here."
}
Reply to comment: tmp/agent-replies/<commentId>.json
{ "commentId": "<id>", "text": "Done. Added try/catch." }
Extension detects files instantly (file watcher) — no reload, no paste needed from the agent side.
How It Works
You Extension Agent
│ │ │
├─ comment on line 42 ────────┤ │
│ ├─ saves to local-review.json │
├─ Submit Review ─────────────┤ │
│ ├─ copies prompt to clipboard │
├─ paste to agent ────────────┼──────────────────────────────►│
│ │ ├─ applies feedback
│ │ ├─ writes agent-replies/
│ reply appears in thread ◄──┤── file watcher fires ◄────────┤
│ │ │
├─ reply in thread ───────────┤ │
├─ Copy Follow-up Prompt ─────┤ │
├─ paste ─────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────►│
│ │ ├─ re-reads, continues
Development
npm run compile # type-check
npm run watch # compile on save (use with F5)
npm test # 131 tests via @vscode/test-electron
F5 # launch Extension Development Host
See AGENTS.md for full dev/release process.
Roadmap
See docs/ROADMAP.md. Next major feature: MCP server for zero-copy-paste agent integration.
