Smart Code Review Guide

Review Azure DevOps Pull Requests directly in VS Code with AI-powered step-by-step walkthroughs, native diffs, and seamless comment integration.

Stop context-switching between VS Code and browser tabs. Review PRs faster with a guided narrative that explains what changed and why it matters.

Why Use Smart Code Review Guide?

Features

AI-Powered Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Uses Copilot/LLM to analyze your PR and generate a narrative review guide. Each step focuses on a specific change with context about what to look for and why it matters.

Same File, Multiple Steps

When a file has changes in multiple areas, each change becomes a separate step at the relevant line range. Review the constructor change first, then the new method - in the order that makes sense.

Code Flow Analysis

Understands data flow and call relationships. If ServiceA calls ServiceB, you'll review them in the right order - not alphabetically.

Plain English Summary

Every PR gets a TL;DR explaining:

• What the PR does in simple terms
• The key change to focus on
• Risk level (low/medium/high)
• Estimated review time

Architecture Overview

Click "View Architecture Overview" to get an AI-generated analysis of your PR's architectural impact:

• Component Flow: Visual diagram of how components interact
• Data Flow: How data moves through the system
• Design Decisions: Key architectural choices made
• Impact Analysis: What other parts of the system this affects
• Testing Strategy: How to verify the changes work correctly

Native VS Code Diff Experience

Uses VS Code's built-in diff editor. Get syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, and all your favorite editor features while reviewing.

Inline Comments

Add comments directly in the diff view - they sync automatically to Azure DevOps. Reply to existing threads without leaving VS Code.

Progress Tracking

Mark steps as reviewed and track your progress. Never lose your place in a large review.

PR Actions

Approve, reject, or request changes directly from VS Code. Complete your entire review workflow without opening a browser.

How It Works

Traditional:                    Smart Code Review Guide:
                                
├── Controllers/               Step 1: "New DTO for capacity data"
│   └── CapacityController.cs      → Models/CapacityDto.cs (lines 1-25)
├── Models/                    
│   └── CapacityDto.cs         Step 2: "Repository method to fetch data"  
├── Services/                      → DAL/CapacityRepository.cs (lines 45-67)
│   └── CapacityService.cs     
└── DAL/                       Step 3: "Service layer orchestration"
    └── CapacityRepository.cs      → Services/CapacityService.cs (lines 12-40)
                               
                               Step 4: "Wire up the API endpoint"
                                   → Controllers/CapacityController.cs (lines 78-95)
                               
                               Step 5: "Additional validation in service"
                                   → Services/CapacityService.cs (lines 52-68)
                                   ↑ Same file, different change!

Usage

1. Click the Smart Code Review Guide icon in the activity bar (left sidebar)
2. Paste an Azure DevOps PR URL in the input box
3. Click Load PR - the AI analyzes the PR and generates a walkthrough
4. Follow the steps in order - each focuses on a specific change
5. Add comments, mark steps reviewed, and approve when done!

Requirements

• VS Code 1.85 or later
• Azure DevOps account with PR access
• Microsoft account authentication
• GitHub Copilot (recommended for best walkthrough generation)

Getting Started

1. Install from the VS Code Marketplace
2. Click the extension icon in the activity bar
3. Paste a PR URL and start reviewing!

Feedback & Issues

Found a bug or have a feature request? File an issue in the repository or reach out to the team.

Made with ❤️ for developers who review code