<skill_overview> Review completed implementation against bd epic to catch gaps before claiming completion; spec is contract, implementation must fulfill contract completely. </skill_overview>
<rigidity_level> LOW FREEDOM - Follow the 4-step review process exactly. Review with Google Fellow-level scrutiny. Never skip automated checks, quality gates, or code reading. No approval without evidence for every criterion. </rigidity_level>
<quick_reference> | Step | Action | Deliverable | |------|--------|-------------| | 1 | Load bd epic + all tasks | TodoWrite with tasks to review | | 2 | Review each task (automated checks, quality gates, read code, audit tests, verify criteria) | Findings per task | | 3 | Report findings (approved / gaps found) | Review decision | | 4 | Gate: If approved → finishing-a-development-branch, If gaps → STOP | Next action |
Review Perspective: Google Fellow-level SRE with 20+ years experience reviewing junior engineer code.
Test Quality Gate: Every new test must catch a real bug. Tautological tests (pass by definition, test mocks, verify compiler-checked facts) = GAPS FOUND. </quick_reference>
<when_to_use>
- hyperpowers:executing-plans completed all tasks
- Before claiming work is complete
- Before hyperpowers:finishing-a-development-branch
- Want to verify implementation matches spec
Don't use for:
- Mid-implementation (use hyperpowers:executing-plans)
- Before all tasks done
- Code reviews of external PRs (this is self-review) </when_to_use>
<the_process>
Step 1: Load Epic Specification
Announce: "I'm using hyperpowers:review-implementation to verify implementation matches spec. Reviewing with Google Fellow-level scrutiny."
Get epic and tasks:
bd show bd-1 # Epic specification
bd dep tree bd-1 # Task tree
bd list --parent bd-1 # All tasks
Create TodoWrite tracker:
TodoWrite todos:
- Review bd-2: Task Name
- Review bd-3: Task Name
- Review bd-4: Task Name
- Compile findings and make decision
Step 2: Review Each Task
For each task:
A. Read Task Specification
bd show bd-3
Extract:
- Goal (what problem solved?)
- Success criteria (how verify done?)
- Implementation checklist (files/functions/tests)
- Key considerations (edge cases)
- Anti-patterns (prohibited patterns)
B. Run Automated Code Completeness Checks
# TODOs/FIXMEs without issue numbers
rg -i "todo|fixme" src/ tests/ || echo "✅ None"
# Stub implementations
rg "unimplemented!|todo!|unreachable!|panic!\(\"not implemented" src/ || echo "✅ None"
# Unsafe patterns in production
rg "\.unwrap\(\)|\.expect\(" src/ | grep -v "/tests/" || echo "✅ None"
# Ignored/skipped tests
rg "#\[ignore\]|#\[skip\]|\.skip\(\)" tests/ src/ || echo "✅ None"
C. Run Quality Gates (via test-runner agent)
IMPORTANT: Use hyperpowers:test-runner agent to avoid context pollution.
Dispatch hyperpowers:test-runner: "Run: cargo test"
Dispatch hyperpowers:test-runner: "Run: cargo fmt --check"
Dispatch hyperpowers:test-runner: "Run: cargo clippy -- -D warnings"
Dispatch hyperpowers:test-runner: "Run: .git/hooks/pre-commit"
D. Read Implementation Files
CRITICAL: READ actual files, not just git diff.
# See changes
git diff main...HEAD -- src/auth/jwt.ts
# THEN READ FULL FILE
Read tool: src/auth/jwt.ts
While reading, check:
- ✅ Code implements checklist items (not stubs)
- ✅ Error handling uses proper patterns (Result, try/catch)
- ✅ Edge cases from "Key Considerations" handled
- ✅ Code is clear and maintainable
- ✅ No anti-patterns present
E. Code Quality Review (Google Fellow Perspective)
Assume code written by junior engineer. Apply production-grade scrutiny.
Error Handling:
- Proper use of Result/Option or try/catch?
- Error messages helpful for production debugging?
- No unwrap/expect in production?
- Errors propagate with context?
- Failure modes graceful?
Safety:
- No unsafe blocks without justification?
- Proper bounds checking?
- No potential panics?
- No data races?
- No SQL injection, XSS vulnerabilities?
Clarity:
- Would junior understand in 6 months?
- Single responsibility per function?
- Descriptive variable names?
- Complex logic explained?
- No clever tricks - obvious and boring?
Testing (CRITICAL - Apply strict scrutiny):
- Edge cases covered (empty, max, Unicode)?
- Tests catch real bugs, not just inflate coverage?
- Test names describe specific bug prevented?
- Tests test behavior, not implementation?
- Failure scenarios tested?
- No tautological tests (see Test Quality Audit below)?
Production Readiness:
- Comfortable deploying to production?
- Could cause outage or data loss?
- Performance acceptable under load?
- Logging sufficient for debugging?
E2. Test Quality Audit (Mandatory for All New Tests)
CRITICAL: Review every new/modified test for meaningfulness. Tautological tests are WORSE than no tests - they give false confidence.
For each test, ask:
- What bug would this catch? → If you can't name a specific failure mode, test is pointless
- Could production code break while this test passes? → If yes, test is too weak
- Does this test a real user scenario? → Or just implementation details?
- Is the assertion meaningful? →
expect(result != nil)is weaker thanexpect(result == expectedValue)
Red flags (REJECT implementation until fixed):
- ❌ Tests that only verify syntax/existence ("enum has cases", "struct has fields")
- ❌ Tautological tests (pass by definition:
expect(builder.build() != nil)when build() can't return nil) - ❌ Tests that duplicate implementation (testing 1+1==2 by asserting 1+1==2)
- ❌ Tests without meaningful assertions (call code but don't verify outcomes matter)
- ❌ Tests that verify mock behavior instead of production code
- ❌ Codable/Equatable round-trip tests with only happy path data
- ❌ Generic test names ("test_basic", "test_it_works", "test_model")
Examples of meaningless tests to reject:
// ❌ REJECT: Tautological - compiler ensures enum has cases
func testEnumHasCases() {
_ = MyEnum.caseOne // This proves nothing
_ = MyEnum.caseTwo
}
// ❌ REJECT: Tautological - build() returns non-optional, can't be nil
func testBuilderReturnsValue() {
let result = Builder().build()
#expect(result != nil) // Always passes by type system
}
// ❌ REJECT: Tests mock, not production code
func testServiceCallsAPI() {
let mock = MockAPI()
let service = Service(api: mock)
service.fetchData()
#expect(mock.fetchCalled) // Tests mock behavior, not real logic
}
// ❌ REJECT: Happy path only, no edge cases
func testCodable() {
let original = User(name: "John", age: 30)
let data = try! encoder.encode(original)
let decoded = try! decoder.decode(User.self, from: data)
#expect(decoded == original) // What about empty name? Max age? Unicode?
}
Examples of meaningful tests to approve:
// ✅ APPROVE: Catches missing validation bug
func testEmptyPayloadReturnsValidationError() {
let result = validator.validate(payload: "")
#expect(result == .error(.emptyPayload))
}
// ✅ APPROVE: Catches race condition bug
func testConcurrentWritesDontCorruptData() {
let store = ThreadSafeStore()
DispatchQueue.concurrentPerform(iterations: 1000) { i in
store.write(key: "k\(i)", value: i)
}
#expect(store.count == 1000) // Would fail if race condition exists
}
// ✅ APPROVE: Catches error handling bug
func testMalformedJSONReturns400Not500() {
let response = api.parse(json: "{invalid")
#expect(response.status == 400) // Not 500 which would indicate unhandled exception
}
// ✅ APPROVE: Catches encoding bug with edge case
func testUnicodeNamePreservedAfterRoundtrip() {
let original = User(name: "日本語テスト 🎉")
let decoded = roundtrip(original)
#expect(decoded.name == original.name)
}
Audit process:
# Find all new/modified test files
git diff main...HEAD --name-only | grep -E "(test|spec)"
# Read each test file
Read tool: tests/new_feature_test.swift
# For EACH test function, document:
# - Test name
# - What bug it catches (or "TAUTOLOGICAL" if none)
# - Verdict: ✅ Keep / ⚠️ Strengthen / ❌ Remove/Replace
If tautological tests found:
## Test Quality Audit: GAPS FOUND ❌
### Tautological/Meaningless Tests
| Test | Problem | Action |
|------|---------|--------|
| testEnumHasCases | Compiler already ensures this | ❌ Remove |
| testBuilderReturns | Non-optional return, can't be nil | ❌ Remove |
| testCodable | Happy path only, no edge cases | ⚠️ Add: empty, unicode, max values |
| testServiceCalls | Tests mock, not production | ❌ Replace with integration test |
**Cannot approve until tests are meaningful.**
F. Verify Success Criteria with Evidence
For EACH criterion in bd task:
- Run verification command
- Check actual output
- Don't assume - verify with evidence
- Use hyperpowers:test-runner for tests/lints
Example:
Criterion: "All tests passing"
Command: cargo test
Evidence: "127 tests passed, 0 failures"
Result: ✅ Met
Criterion: "No unwrap in production"
Command: rg "\.unwrap\(\)" src/
Evidence: "No matches"
Result: ✅ Met
G. Check Anti-Patterns
Search for each prohibited pattern from bd task:
# Example anti-patterns from task
rg "\.unwrap\(\)" src/ # If task prohibits unwrap
rg "TODO" src/ # If task prohibits untracked TODOs
rg "\.skip\(\)" tests/ # If task prohibits skipped tests
H. Verify Key Considerations
Read code to confirm edge cases handled:
- Empty input validation
- Unicode handling
- Concurrent access
- Failure modes
- Performance concerns
Example: Task says "Must handle empty payload" → Find validation code for empty payload.
I. Record Findings
### Task: bd-3 - Implement JWT authentication
#### Automated Checks
- TODOs: ✅ None
- Stubs: ✅ None
- Unsafe patterns: ❌ Found `.unwrap()` at src/auth/jwt.ts:45
- Ignored tests: ✅ None
#### Quality Gates
- Tests: ✅ Pass (127 tests)
- Formatting: ✅ Pass
- Linting: ❌ 3 warnings
- Pre-commit: ❌ Fails due to linting
#### Files Reviewed
- src/auth/jwt.ts: ⚠️ Contains `.unwrap()` at line 45
- tests/auth/jwt_test.rs: ✅ Complete
#### Code Quality
- Error Handling: ⚠️ Uses unwrap instead of proper error propagation
- Safety: ✅ Good
- Clarity: ✅ Good
- Testing: See Test Quality Audit below
#### Test Quality Audit (New/Modified Tests)
| Test | Bug It Catches | Verdict |
|------|----------------|---------|
| test_valid_token_accepted | Missing validation | ✅ Keep |
| test_expired_token_rejected | Expiration bypass | ✅ Keep |
| test_jwt_struct_exists | Nothing (tautological) | ❌ Remove |
| test_encode_decode | Encoding bug (but happy path only) | ⚠️ Add edge cases |
**Tautological tests found:** 1 (test_jwt_struct_exists)
**Weak tests found:** 1 (test_encode_decode needs edge cases)
#### Success Criteria
1. "All tests pass": ✅ Met - Evidence: 127 tests passed
2. "Pre-commit passes": ❌ Not met - Evidence: clippy warnings
3. "No unwrap in production": ❌ Not met - Evidence: Found at jwt.ts:45
#### Anti-Patterns
- "NO unwrap in production": ❌ Violated at src/auth/jwt.ts:45
#### Issues
**Critical:**
1. unwrap() at jwt.ts:45 - violates anti-pattern, must use proper error handling
2. Tautological test: test_jwt_struct_exists must be removed
**Important:**
3. 3 clippy warnings block pre-commit hook
4. test_encode_decode needs edge cases (empty, unicode, max length)
J. Mark Task Reviewed (TodoWrite)
Step 3: Report Findings
After reviewing ALL tasks:
If NO gaps:
## Implementation Review: APPROVED ✅
Reviewed bd-1 (OAuth Authentication) against implementation.
### Tasks Reviewed
- bd-2: Configure OAuth provider ✅
- bd-3: Implement token exchange ✅
- bd-4: Add refresh logic ✅
### Verification Summary
- All success criteria verified
- No anti-patterns detected
- All key considerations addressed
- All files implemented per spec
### Evidence
- Tests: 127 passed, 0 failures (2.3s)
- Linting: No warnings
- Pre-commit: Pass
- Code review: Production-ready
Ready to proceed to hyperpowers:finishing-a-development-branch.
If gaps found:
## Implementation Review: GAPS FOUND ❌
Reviewed bd-1 (OAuth Authentication) against implementation.
### Tasks with Gaps
#### bd-3: Implement token exchange
**Gaps:**
- ❌ Success criterion not met: "Pre-commit hooks pass"
- Evidence: cargo clippy shows 3 warnings
- ❌ Anti-pattern violation: Found `.unwrap()` at src/auth/jwt.ts:45
- ⚠️ Key consideration not addressed: "Empty payload validation"
- No check for empty payload in generateToken()
#### bd-4: Add refresh logic
**Gaps:**
- ❌ Success criterion not met: "All tests passing"
- Evidence: test_verify_expired_token failing
### Cannot Proceed
Implementation does not match spec. Fix gaps before completing.
Step 4: Gate Decision
If APPROVED:
Announce: "I'm using hyperpowers:finishing-a-development-branch to complete this work."
Use Skill tool: hyperpowers:finishing-a-development-branch
If GAPS FOUND:
STOP. Do not proceed to finishing-a-development-branch.
Fix gaps or discuss with partner.
Re-run review after fixes.
</the_process>
<examples> <example> <scenario>Developer only checks git diff, doesn't read actual files</scenario> <code> # Review process git diff main...HEAD # Shows changesDeveloper sees:
- function generateToken(payload) {
- return jwt.sign(payload, secret);
- }
Approves based on diff
"Looks good, token generation implemented ✅"
Misses: Full context shows no validation
function generateToken(payload) { // No validation of payload! // No check for empty payload (key consideration) // No error handling if jwt.sign fails return jwt.sign(payload, secret); } </code>
<why_it_fails>
- Git diff shows additions, not full context
- Missed that empty payload not validated (key consideration)
- Missed that error handling missing (quality issue)
- False approval - gaps exist but not caught
- Will fail in production when empty payload passed </why_it_fails>
# See changes
git diff main...HEAD -- src/auth/jwt.ts
# THEN READ FULL FILE
Read tool: src/auth/jwt.ts
Reading full file reveals:
function generateToken(payload) {
// Missing: empty payload check (key consideration from bd task)
// Missing: error handling for jwt.sign failure
return jwt.sign(payload, secret);
}
Record in findings:
⚠️ Key consideration not addressed: "Empty payload validation"
- No check for empty payload in generateToken()
- Code at src/auth/jwt.ts:15-17
⚠️ Error handling: jwt.sign can throw, not handled
What you gain:
- Caught gaps that git diff missed
- Full context reveals missing validation
- Quality issues identified before production
- Spec compliance verified, not assumed </correction>
Developer concludes
"Tests pass, implementation complete ✅"
Proceeds to finishing-a-development-branch
Misses:
- bd task has 5 success criteria
- Only checked 1 (tests pass)
- Anti-pattern: unwrap() present (prohibited)
- Key consideration: Unicode handling not tested
- Linter has warnings (blocks pre-commit) </code>
<why_it_fails>
- Tests passing ≠ spec compliance
- Didn't verify all success criteria
- Didn't check anti-patterns
- Didn't verify key considerations
- Pre-commit will fail (blocks merge)
- Ships code violating anti-patterns </why_it_fails>
bd task has 5 success criteria:
1. "All tests pass" ✅ - Evidence: 127 passed
2. "Pre-commit passes" ❌ - Evidence: clippy warns (3 warnings)
3. "No unwrap in production" ❌ - Evidence: Found at jwt.ts:45
4. "Unicode handling tested" ⚠️ - Need to verify test exists
5. "Rate limiting implemented" ⚠️ - Need to check code
Result: 1/5 criteria verified met. GAPS EXIST.
Run additional checks:
# Check criterion 2
cargo clippy
# 3 warnings found ❌
# Check criterion 3
rg "\.unwrap\(\)" src/
# src/auth/jwt.ts:45 ❌
# Check criterion 4
rg "unicode" tests/
# No matches ⚠️ Need to verify
Decision: GAPS FOUND, cannot proceed
What you gain:
- Verified ALL criteria, not just tests
- Caught anti-pattern violations
- Caught pre-commit blockers
- Prevented shipping non-compliant code
- Spec contract honored completely </correction>
Developer thinks: "Simple task, just added console.log"
Skips:
- Automated checks (assumes no issues)
- Code quality review (seems obvious)
- Full success criteria verification
Approves quickly:
"Logging added ✅"
Misses:
- console.log used instead of proper logger (anti-pattern)
- Only added to 2 of 5 error paths (incomplete)
- No test verifying logs actually output (criterion)
- Logs contain sensitive data (security issue) </code>
<why_it_fails>
- "Simple" tasks have hidden complexity
- Skipped rigor catches exactly these issues
- Incomplete implementation (2/5 paths)
- Security vulnerability shipped
- Anti-pattern not caught
- Failed success criterion (test logs) </why_it_fails>
# Automated checks
rg "console\.log" src/
# Found at error-handler.ts:12, 15 ⚠️
# Read bd task
bd show bd-5
# Success criteria:
# 1. "All error paths logged"
# 2. "No sensitive data in logs"
# 3. "Test verifies log output"
# Check criterion 1
grep -n "throw new Error" src/
# 5 locations found
# Only 2 have logging ❌ Incomplete
# Check criterion 2
Read tool: src/error-handler.ts
# Logs contain password field ❌ Security issue
# Check criterion 3
rg "test.*log" tests/
# No matches ❌ Test missing
Decision: GAPS FOUND
- Incomplete (3/5 error paths missing logs)
- Security issue (logs password)
- Anti-pattern (console.log instead of logger)
- Missing test
What you gain:
- "Simple" task revealed multiple gaps
- Security vulnerability caught pre-production
- Rigor prevents incomplete work shipping
- All criteria must be met, no exceptions </correction>
Developer approves based on numbers
"Tests pass with 92% coverage, implementation complete ✅"
Proceeds to finishing-a-development-branch
Later in production:
- Validation bypassed because test only checked "validator exists"
- Race condition because test only checked "lock was acquired"
- Encoding corruption because test only checked "encode != nil"
</code><why_it_fails>
- High coverage doesn't mean meaningful tests
- Tests verified existence/syntax, not behavior
- Tautological tests passed by definition:
expect(validator != nil)- always passes, doesn't test validation logicexpect(lock.acquire())- tests mock, not thread safetyexpect(encoded.count > 0)- tests non-empty, not correctness
- Production bugs occurred despite "good" test coverage
- Coverage metrics were gamed with meaningless tests </why_it_fails>
# Find new tests
git diff main...HEAD --name-only | grep test
# Read and audit each test
Read tool: tests/validator_test.swift
For each test, document:
#### Test Quality Audit
| Test | Assertion | Bug Caught? | Verdict |
|------|-----------|-------------|---------|
| testValidatorExists | `!= nil` | ❌ None (compiler checks) | ❌ Remove |
| testValidInput | `isValid == true` | ⚠️ Happy path only | ⚠️ Add edge cases |
| testEmptyInputFails | `isValid == false` | ✅ Missing validation | ✅ Keep |
| testLockAcquired | mock.acquireCalled | ❌ Tests mock | ❌ Replace |
| testConcurrentAccess | count == expected | ✅ Race condition | ✅ Keep |
| testEncodeNotNil | `!= nil` | ❌ Type guarantees this | ❌ Remove |
| testUnicodeRoundtrip | decoded == original | ✅ Encoding corruption | ✅ Keep |
**Tautological tests:** 3 (must remove)
**Weak tests:** 1 (must strengthen)
**Meaningful tests:** 3 (keep)
Decision: GAPS FOUND ❌
## Test Quality Audit: GAPS FOUND
### Tautological Tests (Must Remove)
- testValidatorExists: Compiler ensures non-nil, test proves nothing
- testLockAcquired: Tests mock behavior, not actual thread safety
- testEncodeNotNil: Return type is non-optional, can never be nil
### Weak Tests (Must Strengthen)
- testValidInput: Only happy path, add:
- testEmptyStringRejected
- testMaxLengthRejected
- testUnicodeNormalized
### Action Required
Remove 3 tautological tests, add 3 edge case tests, then re-review.
What you gain:
- Real test quality, not coverage theater
- Bugs caught before production
- Tests that actually verify behavior
- Confidence in test suite </correction>
<critical_rules>
Rules That Have No Exceptions
- Review every task → No skipping "simple" tasks
- Run all automated checks → TODOs, stubs, unwrap, ignored tests
- Read actual files with Read tool → Not just git diff
- Verify every success criterion → With evidence, not assumptions
- Check all anti-patterns → Search for prohibited patterns
- Apply Google Fellow scrutiny → Production-grade code review
- Audit all new tests for meaningfulness → Tautological tests = gaps, not coverage
- If gaps found → STOP → Don't proceed to finishing-a-development-branch
Common Excuses
All of these mean: STOP. Follow full review process.
- "Tests pass, must be complete" (Tests ≠ spec, check all criteria)
- "I implemented it, it's done" (Implementation ≠ compliance, verify)
- "No time for thorough review" (Gaps later cost more than review now)
- "Looks good to me" (Opinion ≠ evidence, run verifications)
- "Small gaps don't matter" (Spec is contract, all criteria matter)
- "Will fix in next PR" (This PR completes this epic, fix now)
- "Can check diff instead of files" (Diff shows changes, not context)
- "Automated checks cover it" (Checks + code review both required)
- "Success criteria passing means done" (Also check anti-patterns, quality, edge cases)
- "Tests exist, so testing is complete" (Tautological tests = false confidence)
- "Coverage looks good" (Coverage can be gamed with meaningless tests)
- "Tests are boilerplate, don't need review" (Every test must catch a real bug)
- "It's just a simple existence check" (Compiler already checks existence)
</critical_rules>
<verification_checklist> Before approving implementation:
Per task:
- [ ] Read bd task specification completely
- [ ] Ran all automated checks (TODOs, stubs, unwrap, ignored tests)
- [ ] Ran all quality gates via test-runner agent (tests, format, lint, pre-commit)
- [ ] Read actual implementation files with Read tool (not just diff)
- [ ] Reviewed code quality with Google Fellow perspective
- [ ] Audited all new tests for meaningfulness (not tautological)
- [ ] Verified every success criterion with evidence
- [ ] Checked every anti-pattern (searched for prohibited patterns)
- [ ] Verified every key consideration addressed in code
Overall:
- [ ] Reviewed ALL tasks (no exceptions)
- [ ] TodoWrite tracker shows all tasks reviewed
- [ ] Compiled findings (approved or gaps)
- [ ] If approved: all criteria met for all tasks
- [ ] If gaps: documented exactly what missing
Can't check all boxes? Return to Step 2 and complete review. </verification_checklist>
<integration> **This skill is called by:** - hyperpowers:executing-plans (Step 5, after all tasks executed)This skill calls:
- hyperpowers:finishing-a-development-branch (if approved)
- hyperpowers:test-runner agent (for quality gates)
This skill uses:
- hyperpowers:verification-before-completion principles (evidence before claims)
Call chain:
hyperpowers:executing-plans → hyperpowers:review-implementation → hyperpowers:finishing-a-development-branch
↓
(if gaps: STOP)
CRITICAL: Use bd commands (bd show, bd list, bd dep tree), never read .beads/issues.jsonl directly.
</integration>
When stuck:
- Unsure if gap critical → If violates criterion, it's a gap
- Criteria ambiguous → Ask user for clarification before approving
- Anti-pattern unclear → Search for it, document if found
- Quality concern → Document as gap, don't rationalize away </resources>