git:20260722.7fdce95 to git:20260724.5ddc0f7

11 added, 11 removed. Audit A to A.

---

name: codex-review

description: Independent gpt-5.6 diff review via the Codex CLI, normal or steerable adversarial with JSON findings. Use before shipping nontrivial changes.

---

# Codex Review

Independent gpt-5.6 review of local changes through the Codex CLI. Read-only - never

lets Codex modify the repo. Works identically from the main loop, subagents, and

workflow stages (no plugin runtime required).

Reviews run on `gpt-5.6-sol` (MODELS.md: code review = Sol) - pin BOTH the model

- (`-m gpt-5.6-sol`) and the effort (`-c model_reasoning_effort="medium"`, or

- `"high"` for consequential/cross-cutting diffs) on every command below rather

- than inheriting CLI defaults. For `codex review`, `-m` is a GLOBAL flag and must

+ (`-m gpt-5.6-sol`) and the effort (`-c model_reasoning_effort="high"`, the

+ v4 standard tier; `"medium"` only for trivial bounded diffs) on every command

+ below rather than inheriting CLI defaults. For `codex review`, `-m` is a GLOBAL flag and must

come before the subcommand. Paths written as `<skill-dir>` mean this skill's

base directory (provided when the skill is invoked).

## Mode selection

- **Normal review** (default): overall code-quality pass on a diff, same quality as

running `/review` inside Codex.

- **Adversarial review**: when the user (or you) wants a specific decision, risk area,

or design pressure-tested. Steerable with focus text; returns structured JSON.

## Normal review

```bash

- codex -m gpt-5.6-sol -c model_reasoning_effort="medium" review --uncommitted # staged + unstaged + untracked

- codex -m gpt-5.6-sol -c model_reasoning_effort="medium" review --base main # branch vs base

- codex -m gpt-5.6-sol -c model_reasoning_effort="medium" review --commit <sha> # a single commit

+ codex -m gpt-5.6-sol -c model_reasoning_effort="high" review --uncommitted # staged + unstaged + untracked

+ codex -m gpt-5.6-sol -c model_reasoning_effort="high" review --base main # branch vs base

+ codex -m gpt-5.6-sol -c model_reasoning_effort="high" review --commit <sha> # a single commit

```

- Multi-file/large diffs take minutes: run via Bash `run_in_background: true`; the

harness notifies on completion (no polling needed).

- Run as ONE bare command - no pipes, no `cd &&` chains (keeps the RTK hook inert).

## Adversarial review

1. Build the prompt from `references/adversarial-prompt.md`: fill `{{TARGET_LABEL}}`

(e.g. "diff vs main"), `{{USER_FOCUS}}` (focus text or "general adversarial pass"),

`{{REVIEW_COLLECTION_GUIDANCE}}` (usually: "Collect the diff yourself with git; read

changed files fully."), and `{{REVIEW_INPUT}}` (either the diff inline, or an

instruction to run `git diff <base>...HEAD`). Write it to the scratchpad.

2. Run as a single bare command, feeding the prompt file via stdin (`-` reads the

prompt from stdin; a plain `< file` redirect keeps the command pipe-free):

```bash

- codex exec -m gpt-5.6-sol -c model_reasoning_effort="medium" -s read-only --cd <repo> --output-schema <skill-dir>/references/review-output.schema.json --output-last-message <scratchpad>/codex-adversarial-<ts>.json - < <scratchpad>/prompt.md

+ codex exec -m gpt-5.6-sol -c model_reasoning_effort="high" -s read-only --cd <repo> --output-schema <skill-dir>/references/review-output.schema.json --output-last-message <scratchpad>/codex-adversarial-<ts>.json - < <scratchpad>/prompt.md

```

3. Read the output JSON: `verdict` (`approve` | `needs-attention`), `findings[]`

(severity, title, body, file, line_start/line_end, confidence 0–1, recommendation),

`next_steps[]`.

## Presenting results

- Present findings ranked by severity, verbatim in substance - do not soften.

- **Never auto-apply fixes from a review.** Present first; fix only when the user asks

or when you already have an approved implementation task that covers it.

- Note the session can be reopened in Codex with `codex resume` if deeper follow-up

is wanted.

- If Codex disagrees with a deliberate design choice, report the disagreement and your

own position - don't silently adopt either side.

## Effort

- Always pin effort explicitly - sol's vendor default is `low`. Per MODELS.md:

- `"medium"` (Sol worker) is the standard review tier; `"high"` (Sol lead) for

- consequential or cross-cutting diffs. **Never xhigh or ultra.** If a Sol-high

- review still leaves material doubt, escalate per MODELS.md: Fable resolves the

+ Always pin effort explicitly - sol's vendor default is `low`. Per MODELS.md

+ (2026-07-24 recalibration): `"high"` (Sol worker) is the standard review tier;

+ `"medium"` only for trivial bounded diffs. **Never xhigh or ultra.** If a Sol-high

+ review still leaves material doubt, escalate per MODELS.md: Root resolves the

hard part inline, or one independent `gpt-5.6-terra` `"max"` adversarial pass.

References adapted from openai/codex-plugin-cc (Apache-2.0; see references/NOTICE

and the full license text in references/LICENSE).