local-copilot-review-loop

Local Copilot CLI Review Loop

Iterative loop: run ACP-based review → fix findings → re-run → repeat until clean.

Running the CLI

Use the ACP companion script for structured, session-based reviews. Replace <SKILL_BASE_DIR> with the "Base directory for this skill" path shown above when this skill is loaded:

node "<SKILL_BASE_DIR>/scripts/copilot-acp-companion.mjs" review --base <base_ref>

Options:

• --base <ref> — Git base ref for diff (e.g., main, origin/main). Omit for working-tree changes.
• --cwd <path> — Working directory (default: current directory)
• --json — Output structured JSON: { review, stopReason, base, exitCode }
• --timeout <ms> — Max wall-clock timeout in ms (default: 1800000 = 30 min)
• --idle-timeout <ms> — Cancel if no activity for this long, in ms (default: 120000 = 2 min)
• Positional args after flags are treated as additional focus text

Examples:

# Review changes against main branch
node "<SKILL_BASE_DIR>/scripts/copilot-acp-companion.mjs" review --base main

# Review staged and unstaged changes vs HEAD (untracked files are not included)
node "<SKILL_BASE_DIR>/scripts/copilot-acp-companion.mjs" review

# JSON output with focus
node "<SKILL_BASE_DIR>/scripts/copilot-acp-companion.mjs" review --base main --json "focus on error handling"

• The companion script manages the ACP lifecycle internally (connect, session, prompt, cleanup)
• Set COPILOT_ACP_ALLOW_ALL_TOOLS=1 to pass --allow-all-tools to Copilot CLI, broadening tool-execution permissions. Only enable in trusted, controlled environments.
• Uses activity-based idle timeout (default 2 min) — as long as Copilot is actively working (thinking, reading files, running tools), the session continues. A 30-minute wall-clock safety valve prevents runaway sessions.
• Findings are reported as [file:line] severity (high/medium/low): description

Workflow

IMPORTANT: This is a MANDATORY loop. You MUST keep iterating until a stop condition is met. Do NOT stop after a single iteration just because you fixed or dismissed some findings.

1. Detect scope: Determine --base ref. For PRs use the PR base branch. For local work use main or origin/main. Note: --base performs a commit-to-commit diff (base...HEAD), so staged/unstaged working-tree changes are NOT included — commit first, or omit --base to diff against HEAD including working-tree changes.
2. Run the companion script with appropriate --base flag
3. Process ALL findings from this iteration:
   • Read the referenced code at the cited line numbers to verify each finding
   • Fix findings that are valid
   • Dismiss findings that are invalid (note why briefly)
   • Track counts of fixed vs dismissed, and maintain a list of dismissed findings (file, line range, issue summary) for loop detection
4. If code was changed: build and test. If build/test fails, stop and surface the error.
5. If code was changed: commit the fixes (do NOT push unless user asked)
6. Re-run the companion script — this is a NEW ACP session that sees the updated code
7. Repeat from step 3 until a stop condition is met

Stop conditions

• CLI output contains no [file:line] findings (only praise, "looks good", "No issues found.", or "No changes found to review.")
• ALL findings in the current iteration were already seen AND dismissed in a PREVIOUS iteration of THIS loop (loop detection). "Previous conversation" findings do NOT count — only findings from this invocation.
• 5 iterations reached (safety valve — surface remaining findings to user)
• Build/test fails after a fix (stop, surface error, let user decide)
• CLI times out (report it, suggest retrying)

What counts as "same finding" for loop detection

Two findings are the same if they reference the same file, similar line range (±10 lines), and describe the same core issue. Cosmetic wording differences don't matter. If the finding is about code you just changed, it's NOT a repeat — re-assess it.

Output format

After the loop ends, report:

Local Copilot CLI review complete.
- Iterations: N
- Findings fixed: X
- Findings dismissed (invalid): Y
- Remaining: Z (if any)