critique

Review git diffs with syntax highlighting, split view, and word-level diff. Show users what code was changed during a session using terminal UI or web preview.

Prerequisites

Critique requires Bun (does not work with Node.js):

# Run directly (no install needed)
bunx critique

# Or install globally
bun install -g critique

Core Commands

View Current Changes

# Unstaged changes (includes untracked files)
critique

# Staged changes only
critique --staged

# Watch mode - auto-refresh on file changes
critique --watch

View Commits

# Last commit
critique HEAD

# Specific commit
critique --commit HEAD~1
critique --commit abc1234

# Combined changes from last N commits
critique HEAD~3 HEAD

Compare Branches (PR-style)

# What feature-branch added vs main
critique main feature-branch

# What current branch added vs main
critique main HEAD

Filter Files

# Filter by glob pattern
critique --filter "src/**/*.ts"
critique --filter "src/**/*.ts" --filter "lib/**/*.js"

Web Preview

Generate an HTML preview viewable in a browser - ideal for sharing or detailed review:

# Generate web preview
critique --web

# Generate and open in browser
critique --web --open

# Web preview for commits
critique HEAD --web --open
critique main HEAD --web --open

The web preview provides:

• Full syntax highlighting
• Split view with before/after
• Shareable HTML output
• Better for large diffs

AI-Powered Review

Generate AI explanations of code changes. Best for reviewing AI-generated changes:

# Review unstaged changes (uses OpenCode by default)
critique review

# Use Claude Code as the AI backend
critique review --agent claude

# Review specific commits
critique review HEAD
critique review --commit HEAD~1

# Review branch diff (like a PR)
critique review main HEAD

# Include session context for better explanations
critique review --agent claude --session <session-id>

# Generate web preview of AI review
critique review --web
critique review --web --open

AI review features:

• Orders hunks in logical reading order
• Splits large hunks into digestible chunks
• Explains changes with diagrams and tables
• Groups related changes across files

Integrations

Git Difftool

Configure as default git difftool:

git config --global diff.tool critique
git config --global difftool.critique.cmd 'critique difftool "$LOCAL" "$REMOTE"'

Then use: git difftool HEAD~1

Lazygit

Add to ~/.config/lazygit/config.yml:

git:
  paging:
    pager: critique --stdin

Running from Claude Code

Since the TUI runs inside the Bash tool (hidden/folded), use one of these approaches:

Option 1: Split Pane (macOS with iTerm2, Recommended)

Open critique in a split pane that auto-closes when done:

# Horizontal split (top/bottom)
/path/to/skills/critique/scripts/open-critique-pane.sh /path/to/repo -h

# Vertical split (side by side)
/path/to/skills/critique/scripts/open-critique-pane.sh /path/to/repo -v

Option 2: New Terminal Tab (macOS with iTerm2)

Open critique in a new tab:

/path/to/skills/critique/scripts/open-critique.sh /path/to/repo

Option 3: Web Preview (Cross-platform)

Opens in browser - works everywhere:

bunx critique --web --open

Recommended Usage After Claude Work

When a user asks to see what changed after Claude has made modifications:

1. New terminal tab (macOS): Use osascript to open critique in iTerm
2. Web preview: Run critique --web --open for browser view
3. AI-explained review: Run critique review --agent claude --web --open
4. Compare to starting point: Run critique HEAD~N HEAD --web --open

Navigation Keys (Terminal UI)

Key	Action
j/k or ↓/↑	Navigate lines
h/l or ←/→	Switch files
Tab	Toggle split/unified view
q	Quit
?	Help