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Reviewing Agent-Authored PRs: A Strict Checklist
A 15-item checklist for agent PRs — security, testing, behavior.
What You Will Learn
- Apply a 15-item review checklist for agent PRs.
- Verify behavior matches acceptance criteria.
- Check security and testing.
- Don't rubber-stamp.
- Document review findings.
Why This Matters
Agent PRs need stricter review than human PRs. The agent can't be asked 'why did you do this?' — you must verify everything independently.
Concept Explained
15-item checklist for agent PRs: imports, APIs, types, edge cases, security, performance, tests, conventions, docs, behavior, plus: acceptance criteria met, no scope creep, no unrelated changes, branch hygiene, CI passing.
How It Works
Run through all 15 items. Reject if any fails. Iterate with re-delegation if needed. Never rubber-stamp.
Step-by-Step Tutorial
1. 1-10: standard checklist
Same as IN-32 (imports, APIs, types, edge cases, security, performance, tests, conventions, docs, behavior).2. 11. Acceptance criteria met
Does the PR do what the issue specified?3. 12. No scope creep
Did agent change unrelated code?4. 13. No unrelated changes
Diff should be minimal and focused.5. 14. Branch hygiene
Agent worked in branch, not main. Branch named sensibly.6. 15. CI passing
All status checks green.Real-World Example
A team reviewed an agent PR with the 15-item checklist. Found: agent had 'helpfully' refactored an unrelated function (scope creep). Rejected, refined issue with 'only modify X', re-delegated. Clean PR. Lesson: agents over-deliver; constrain scope explicitly.
Example Prompts / Commands / Code
Agent PR Review Checklist:
[ ] 1. Imports: all real, no hallucinated packages
[ ] 2. APIs: all function names exist (verified in docs)
[ ] 3. Types: correct, no `any` slipping in
[ ] 4. Edge cases: handles null, empty, very large, invalid
[ ] 5. Security: input validation, auth, no secrets, no injection
[ ] 6. Performance: no N+1, no unnecessary re-renders, no O(n²)
[ ] 7. Tests: included, test right behavior, cover edge cases
[ ] 8. Conventions: matches project style, naming, structure
[ ] 9. Documentation: docstrings, comments where needed
[ ] 10. Behavior: does what was asked (run it)
[ ] 11. Acceptance criteria: all items in issue are met
[ ] 12. No scope creep: only changed what was asked
[ ] 13. No unrelated changes: diff is minimal and focused
[ ] 14. Branch hygiene: branch not main, named sensibly
[ ] 15. CI passing: all status checks green
If any item fails: reject, refine issue, re-delegate.
Never rubber-stamp agent PRs.
Common Mistakes
- Rubber-stamping — agents produce subtle bugs.
- Not checking acceptance criteria — agent may have done something different.
- Ignoring scope creep — agents 'helpfully' refactor unrelated code.
- Merging without CI green — untested code in main.
Best Practices
- Apply all 15 items to every agent PR.
- Verify acceptance criteria explicitly.
- Reject scope creep; refine issue with 'only modify X'.
- Never merge without CI green.
- Document review findings; feed back into delegation checklist.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | How to Fix |
|---|---|
| Agent keeps producing scope creep | Add 'ONLY modify [files]. Do not change other files.' to issue. |
| CI failing on agent PR | Review failure. If agent bug: reject, refine, re-delegate. If test gap: add test to issue. |
Practical Exercise
Your Turn
Review a recent agent PR with the 15-item checklist. How many items pass? What issues do you find?
Professional Challenge
Build a GitHub Action that posts the 15-item checklist as a comment on agent PRs. Force reviewers to check each box before approving.
Key Takeaways
- 15-item checklist for agent PRs.
- Items 1-10: standard review.
- Items 11-15: acceptance criteria, scope, branch, CI.
- Reject if any fail; refine and re-delegate.
- Never rubber-stamp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I review agent PRs differently than human PRs?
How long should review take?
Further Reading
Official References
SEO Metadata
SEO title: Reviewing Agent-Authored PRs: A Strict Checklist
Meta description: A 15-item checklist for agent PRs — security, testing, behavior.
Primary keyword: reviewing agent-authored prs
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Search intent: Informational
URL slug: /reviewing-agent-authored-prs-strict-checklist
Categories: AI Tools, GitHub Copilot
Tags: GitHub Copilot, Professional, Coding Agent, Code Review, Checklist, IMCSEIAN, Tutorial, IMCSEIAN
Featured image concept: IMCSEIAN lesson card for Reviewing Agent-Authored PRs: A Strict Checklist
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