Plan Review Mode
Read workflow.md for detailed phases and anti-patterns.
Conduct a John Carmack-level review of spec plans.
Role: Code Review Coordinator (NOT the reviewer)
Backends (branch on the Preamble RP_ELIGIBLE guard):
- When
RP_ELIGIBLE=1: RepoPrompt (rp), Codex CLI (codex), GitHub Copilot CLI (copilot), or Cursor CLI (cursor) - When
RP_ELIGIBLE=0: Codex CLI (codex), GitHub Copilot CLI (copilot), or Cursor CLI (cursor) — rp is macOS-only; never list it in guidance you surface (--review=rpstays accepted)
Preamble
CRITICAL: flowctl is BUNDLED — NOT installed globally. which flowctl will fail (expected). Define once; subsequent blocks (here and in workflow.md) use $FLOWCTL:
FLOWCTL="${DROID_PLUGIN_ROOT:-${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}}/scripts/flowctl"
[ -x "$FLOWCTL" ] || FLOWCTL=".flow/bin/flowctl"
# RepoPrompt is macOS-only (rp-cli bridges the GUI). Only offer the rp path
# when it can actually run: on macOS, or when rp-cli is already on PATH.
if [ "$(uname 2>/dev/null)" = "Darwin" ] || command -v rp-cli >/dev/null 2>&1; then
RP_ELIGIBLE=1
else
RP_ELIGIBLE=0
fi
When RP_ELIGIBLE=0 (not macOS, no rp-cli), never steer the user toward rp: every backend summary, recommendation, or override hint you surface presents only the runnable configured backends codex, copilot, cursor (plus none). export is an explicit one-off review MODE (--review=export), not a configured backend — never present it as one. Suppression is not a ban: an explicit --review=rp, FLOW_REVIEW_BACKEND=rp, or review.backend=rp still resolves to rp and errors at runtime via require_rp_cli() as today.
Backend Selection
Priority (first match wins):
--review=rp|codex|copilot|cursor|export|noneargumentFLOW_REVIEW_BACKENDenv var — bare backend (rp,codex,copilot,cursor,none) OR spec form (codex:gpt-5.4:xhigh,copilot:claude-opus-4.5,cursor:gpt-5.5-high).flow/config.json→review.backend(same bare / spec forms)- Error - no auto-detection
Parse from arguments first
Check $ARGUMENTS for:
--review=rpor--review rp→ use rp--review=codexor--review codex→ use codex--review=copilotor--review copilot→ use copilot--review=cursoror--review cursor→ use cursor--review=exportor--review export→ use export--review=noneor--review none→ skip review
If found, use that backend and skip all other detection.
Otherwise read from config
# Priority: --review flag > per-spec `default_review` override > env > config.
# Resolve the spec id from $ARGUMENTS FIRST so a per-spec `default_review` override routes to the
# right backend BEFORE branching (empty → env/config, no regression). `$1` is the positional spec
# arg — the backend blocks below reuse it as `SPEC_ID`.
SPEC_ID="${1:-}" # the spec-id positional arg (canonicalized by review-backend); empty falls back to env/config
BACKEND=$($FLOWCTL review-backend "$SPEC_ID")
if [[ "$BACKEND" == "ASK" ]]; then
echo "Error: No review backend configured."
if [ "$RP_ELIGIBLE" = 1 ]; then
echo "Run /flow-next:setup to configure, or pass --review=rp|codex|copilot|cursor|none"
else
echo "Run /flow-next:setup to configure, or pass --review=codex|copilot|cursor|none"
fi
exit 1
fi
if [ "$RP_ELIGIBLE" = 1 ]; then
echo "Review backend: $BACKEND (override: --review=rp|codex|copilot|cursor|none)"
else
echo "Review backend: $BACKEND (override: --review=codex|copilot|cursor|none)"
fi
Backend at a glance
When RP_ELIGIBLE=0, omit the rp line below from any guidance you surface (explicit --review=rp still honored):
- rp — RepoPrompt (macOS GUI); builder auto-selects context. Primary backend.
- codex — Codex CLI (cross-platform); uses OpenAI models (default
gpt-5.5).FLOW_CODEX_MODEL/FLOW_CODEX_EFFORTenv vars, or--spec codex:gpt-5.4:xhigh. - copilot — GitHub Copilot CLI (cross-platform); supports Claude Opus/Sonnet/Haiku 4.5 and GPT-5.2 families via a Copilot subscription.
FLOW_COPILOT_MODEL/FLOW_COPILOT_EFFORTenv vars, or--spec copilot:claude-opus-4.5:xhigh. - cursor — Cursor CLI (
cursor-agent, cross-platform); reachesgpt-5.5-high(1M-ctx default), thegpt-5.3-codexfamily,composer-2.5, andclaude-opus-4-8-thinking-highvia a Cursor subscription.FLOW_CURSOR_MODELenv var, or--spec cursor:gpt-5.5-high. Cursor folds reasoning effort into the model name — no effort field.
Spec grammar: backend[:model[:effort]] — FLOW_REVIEW_BACKEND and .flow/config.json review.backend both accept this. Examples: codex, codex:gpt-5.2, copilot:claude-opus-4.5:xhigh, cursor:gpt-5.5-high (cursor takes model only — no :effort). Per-spec default_review (set via flowctl spec set-backend) overrides env.
Critical Rules
For rp backend:
- DO NOT REVIEW THE PLAN YOURSELF - you coordinate, RepoPrompt reviews
- MUST WAIT for actual RP response - never simulate/skip the review
- MUST use
setup-review- handles window selection + builder atomically - DO NOT add --json flag to chat-send - it suppresses the review response
- Re-reviews MUST stay in SAME chat - omit
--new-chatafter first review
For codex backend:
- Use
$FLOWCTL codex plan-reviewexclusively - Pass
--receiptfor session continuity on re-reviews - Parse verdict from command output
For copilot backend:
- Use
$FLOWCTL copilot plan-reviewexclusively - Pass
--receiptfor session continuity on re-reviews (session only resumes when prior receipt hasmode == "copilot") - Model + effort resolved via (first match wins):
--spec backend:model:effortflag, per-specdefault_review,FLOW_REVIEW_BACKENDspec,FLOW_COPILOT_MODEL/FLOW_COPILOT_EFFORTenv vars, registry defaults - Parse verdict from command output
For cursor backend:
- Use
$FLOWCTL cursor plan-reviewexclusively (requires--files <code files>, same as codex/copilot) - Pass
--receiptfor session continuity on re-reviews (session only resumes when prior receipt hasmode == "cursor") - Model resolved via (first match wins):
--spec cursor:<model>flag, per-specdefault_review,FLOW_REVIEW_BACKENDspec,FLOW_CURSOR_MODELenv var, registry default (gpt-5.5-high). No effort — Cursor bakes effort into the model name;cursor:<model>:<effort>is rejected - Parse verdict from command output
For all backends:
- If
REVIEW_RECEIPT_PATHset: write receipt after review (any verdict) - Any failure → output
<promise>RETRY</promise>and stop - Foreground rule: run every
flowctl <backend> plan-reviewcall as one blocking foreground Bash call with a generous timeout (10 minutes; verdicts typically land in 1–7) — neverrun_in_background+ monitor/poll (a background completion does not reliably resume a subagent context)
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: $ARGUMENTS
Format: <flow-spec-id> [focus areas]
Workflow
See workflow.md for full details on each backend.
REPO_ROOT="$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || pwd)"
Step 0: Detect Backend
Run backend detection from SKILL.md above. Then branch:
Codex Backend
SPEC_ID="${1:-}"
RECEIPT_PATH="${REVIEW_RECEIPT_PATH:-/tmp/plan-review-receipt-${SPEC_ID}.json}" # fn-90 R5: spec-scoped default (concurrent specs no longer collide); explicit REVIEW_RECEIPT_PATH still wins
# Save checkpoint before review (recovery point if context compacts)
$FLOWCTL checkpoint save --spec "$SPEC_ID" --json
# --files: comma-separated CODE files for reviewer context
# Spec/task specs are auto-included; pass files the plan will CREATE or MODIFY
# How to identify: read the spec, find files mentioned or directories affected
# Example: spec touches auth → pass existing auth files for context
#
# Dynamic approach (if spec mentions specific paths):
# CODE_FILES=$(grep -oE 'src/[^ ]+\.(ts|py|js)' .flow/specs/${SPEC_ID}.md | sort -u | paste -sd,)
# Or list key files manually:
# Derive REAL reviewer anchors from the spec's `## Key files / interfaces` (the canonical,
# scaffold-mandated source); fall back to any file-like tokens in the spec. NEVER a hardcoded
# guess — the cross-platform backends need real code paths or they only catch spec-internal
# inconsistency, not "this plan contradicts how the codebase actually works."
CODE_FILES="$(awk '/^## Key files/{f=1;next} /^## /{f=0} f' ".flow/specs/${SPEC_ID}.md" | grep -oE '`[^`]+\.[A-Za-z0-9]+`' | tr -d '`' | grep -vE '^https?:' | sort -u | head -20 | paste -sd, -)"
[ -z "$CODE_FILES" ] && CODE_FILES="$(grep -oE '[A-Za-z0-9_./-]+\.(py|ts|tsx|js|jsx|go|rs|rb|java|php|c|cpp|h|md|sh)' ".flow/specs/${SPEC_ID}.md" | grep -vE '^https?:' | sort -u | head -20 | paste -sd, -)"
$FLOWCTL codex plan-review "$SPEC_ID" --files "$CODE_FILES" --receipt "$RECEIPT_PATH"
# Output includes VERDICT=SHIP|NEEDS_WORK|MAJOR_RETHINK
On NEEDS_WORK: fix plan via $FLOWCTL spec set-plan AND sync affected task specs via $FLOWCTL task set-spec, then re-run (receipt enables session continuity).
Note: codex plan-review automatically includes task specs in the review prompt.
Copilot Backend
SPEC_ID="${1:-}"
RECEIPT_PATH="${REVIEW_RECEIPT_PATH:-/tmp/plan-review-receipt-${SPEC_ID}.json}" # fn-90 R5: spec-scoped default (concurrent specs no longer collide); explicit REVIEW_RECEIPT_PATH still wins
# Save checkpoint before review (recovery point if context compacts)
$FLOWCTL checkpoint save --spec "$SPEC_ID" --json
# --files: comma-separated CODE files for reviewer context (same shape as codex)
# Spec/task specs are auto-included; pass files the plan will CREATE or MODIFY
# Derive REAL reviewer anchors from the spec's `## Key files / interfaces` (the canonical,
# scaffold-mandated source); fall back to any file-like tokens in the spec. NEVER a hardcoded
# guess — the cross-platform backends need real code paths or they only catch spec-internal
# inconsistency, not "this plan contradicts how the codebase actually works."
CODE_FILES="$(awk '/^## Key files/{f=1;next} /^## /{f=0} f' ".flow/specs/${SPEC_ID}.md" | grep -oE '`[^`]+\.[A-Za-z0-9]+`' | tr -d '`' | grep -vE '^https?:' | sort -u | head -20 | paste -sd, -)"
[ -z "$CODE_FILES" ] && CODE_FILES="$(grep -oE '[A-Za-z0-9_./-]+\.(py|ts|tsx|js|jsx|go|rs|rb|java|php|c|cpp|h|md|sh)' ".flow/specs/${SPEC_ID}.md" | grep -vE '^https?:' | sort -u | head -20 | paste -sd, -)"
# Override model + effort (pick one):
# --spec copilot:claude-opus-4.5:xhigh (preferred)
# FLOW_REVIEW_BACKEND=copilot:claude-opus-4.5:xhigh
# FLOW_COPILOT_MODEL=gpt-5.5 FLOW_COPILOT_EFFORT=high
$FLOWCTL copilot plan-review "$SPEC_ID" --files "$CODE_FILES" --receipt "$RECEIPT_PATH"
# Output includes VERDICT=SHIP|NEEDS_WORK|MAJOR_RETHINK
On NEEDS_WORK: fix plan via $FLOWCTL spec set-plan AND sync affected task specs via $FLOWCTL task set-spec, then re-run. Session resume only when prior receipt has mode == "copilot".
Note: copilot plan-review automatically includes task specs in the review prompt (same as codex).
Cursor Backend
SPEC_ID="${1:-}"
RECEIPT_PATH="${REVIEW_RECEIPT_PATH:-/tmp/plan-review-receipt-${SPEC_ID}.json}" # fn-90 R5: spec-scoped default (concurrent specs no longer collide); explicit REVIEW_RECEIPT_PATH still wins
# Save checkpoint before review (recovery point if context compacts)
$FLOWCTL checkpoint save --spec "$SPEC_ID" --json
# --files: comma-separated CODE files for reviewer context (same shape as codex)
# Spec/task specs are auto-included; pass files the plan will CREATE or MODIFY
# Derive REAL reviewer anchors from the spec's `## Key files / interfaces` (the canonical,
# scaffold-mandated source); fall back to any file-like tokens in the spec. NEVER a hardcoded
# guess — the cross-platform backends need real code paths or they only catch spec-internal
# inconsistency, not "this plan contradicts how the codebase actually works."
CODE_FILES="$(awk '/^## Key files/{f=1;next} /^## /{f=0} f' ".flow/specs/${SPEC_ID}.md" | grep -oE '`[^`]+\.[A-Za-z0-9]+`' | tr -d '`' | grep -vE '^https?:' | sort -u | head -20 | paste -sd, -)"
[ -z "$CODE_FILES" ] && CODE_FILES="$(grep -oE '[A-Za-z0-9_./-]+\.(py|ts|tsx|js|jsx|go|rs|rb|java|php|c|cpp|h|md|sh)' ".flow/specs/${SPEC_ID}.md" | grep -vE '^https?:' | sort -u | head -20 | paste -sd, -)"
# Override model (pick one):
# --spec cursor:gpt-5.5-high (preferred)
# FLOW_REVIEW_BACKEND=cursor:gpt-5.5-high
# FLOW_CURSOR_MODEL=composer-2.5
# Cursor folds effort into the model name — no :<effort> and no FLOW_CURSOR_EFFORT.
$FLOWCTL cursor plan-review "$SPEC_ID" --files "$CODE_FILES" --receipt "$RECEIPT_PATH"
# Output includes VERDICT=SHIP|NEEDS_WORK|MAJOR_RETHINK
On NEEDS_WORK: fix plan via $FLOWCTL spec set-plan AND sync affected task specs via $FLOWCTL task set-spec, then re-run. Session resume only when prior receipt has mode == "cursor".
Note: cursor plan-review automatically includes task specs in the review prompt (same as codex).
RepoPrompt Backend
⚠️ STOP: You MUST read and execute 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:
- Get plan content and save checkpoint
- Atomic setup (setup-review) → sets
$Wand$T - Augment selection (spec + task specs)
- 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.
MAJOR_RETHINK is NOT a fix-loop input. Every backend can emit MAJOR_RETHINK (a valid verdict tag), but it means the plan/approach is wrong — not something to patch finding-by-finding. Do NOT enter the fix loop on it. Escalate immediately: surface the reviewer's rationale to the caller and stop with a typed BLOCKED: DESIGN_CONFLICT (Ralph mode: output <promise>RETRY</promise>). A re-plan is a human decision, never an ad-hoc patch. Only NEEDS_WORK drives the loop below.
MAX ITERATIONS (backend-agnostic — applies to ALL backends: rp, codex, copilot, cursor): keep an iteration counter in agent context, starting at 0. Each fix+re-review cycle increments it. When the counter reaches ${MAX_REVIEW_ITERATIONS:-4} (default 4; env-overridable, configurable in Ralph's config.env) and the verdict is still NEEDS_WORK, BREAK the loop and escalate: surface the surviving findings to the caller and stop (in Ralph mode output <promise>RETRY</promise> so the next iteration starts fresh). Never loop unbounded. The per-backend workflow files defer to this cap. The cap is now ALSO enforced deterministically by flowctl (fn-90 R5): each flowctl <backend> plan-review dispatch increments a cumulative spec-scoped counter (plan_review_rounds) and REFUSES at ${MAX_REVIEW_ITERATIONS:-4} with an ESCALATE: marker + exit 4 — the flowctl counter survives across fresh /flow-next:plan-review invocations, so a caller-side "re-invoke until SHIP" outer loop can no longer reset the cap by re-entering. This loop is INTERNAL — the caller (e.g. /flow-next:plan, pilot) invokes plan-review ONCE and acts on the terminal verdict; the flowctl counter resets ONLY on a SHIP verdict or an explicit re-plan (flowctl spec reset-review-rounds <spec-id>), never on a fresh invocation or a spec edit.
If verdict is NEEDS_WORK, loop internally until SHIP or the iteration cap:
- Parse issues from reviewer feedback
- Fix spec (stdin preferred, temp file if content has single quotes):
# Preferred: stdin heredoc $FLOWCTL spec set-plan <SPEC_ID> --file - --json <<'EOF' <updated spec content> EOF # Or temp file — literal unique path per the path-persistence rule $FLOWCTL spec set-plan <SPEC_ID> --file "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/flow-plan-review-updated-plan-<spec-id>-<suffix>.md" --json - Sync affected task specs - If spec changes affect task specs, update them:
Task specs need updating when spec changes affect:$FLOWCTL task set-spec <TASK_ID> --file - --json <<'EOF' <updated task spec content> EOF- State/enum values referenced in tasks
- Acceptance criteria that tasks implement
- Approach/design decisions tasks depend on
- Lock/retry/error handling semantics
- API signatures or type definitions
- Re-review:
- Codex: Re-run
flowctl codex plan-review(receipt enables context) - Copilot: Re-run
flowctl copilot plan-review(receipt enables context; must bemode == "copilot"to resume) - Cursor: Re-run
flowctl cursor plan-review(receipt enables context; must bemode == "cursor"to resume) - RP:
$FLOWCTL rp chat-send --window "$W" --tab "$T" --message-file <literal re-review path from workflow.md's fix loop>(NO--new-chat; stdout redirected to the same literal response file, Read once)
- Codex: Re-run
- Repeat until
<verdict>SHIP</verdict>— or the MAX ITERATIONS cap above breaks the loop (escalate with surviving findings)
Recovery: If context compaction occurred during review, restore from checkpoint:
$FLOWCTL checkpoint restore --spec <SPEC_ID> --json
CRITICAL: For RP, re-reviews must stay in the SAME chat so reviewer has context. Only use --new-chat on the FIRST review.