slop-review

What is slop-review

slop-review is a local code review tool for working through a git branch, adding inline comments to the diff, and then passing those review threads to an LLM. It is designed around the review loop itself, not just around reading changes. You can use it on any git repo, and the same review UI runs either as a browser app or directly in a terminal through Carbonyl.

The app keeps review data as plain JSON in a .reviews/ folder. That means the review tool does not depend on a remote backend, a clipboard bridge, or a server-based agent API to move comments between you and your model. For teams or solo developers who want a lightweight review tool, that is the main appeal of slop-review.

Key features

slop-review focuses on a few specific pieces of the review tool workflow:

• Importance-ordered file list: changed files are sorted by how central they are to the change set, instead of alphabetically.
• Keyboard-driven review UI: the app is designed for single-key actions and Vim-like navigation.
• Inline comments on diffs: you can comment on the new side or the old side of a change, including single-line and multi-line ranges.
• LLM handoff loop: a bundled Claude Code skill can read and write .reviews/ JSON so an agent can act as reviewer or reviewee.
• Blob-keyed reviewed marks: reviewed state is tied to a file blob SHA, so marks become invalid only when that file actually changes.
• Cross-file symbol lookup: double-click an identifier to see matching occurrences across changed files.
• Three diff modes: review a full branch, a single commit, or your current working copy.
• Two renderers: the same review tool works in a browser tab or in a terminal pane through Carbonyl.

The browser mode is the easiest starting point, while the terminal mode is useful when you want the review tool to live in one pane with your editor or shell.

How to use it

1. Run the app in a git repository. The project documents a quick start with npx slop-review.
2. Open the local UI on localhost:9410 in the browser, or launch it in terminal mode with --carbonyl.
3. Pick the diff mode you want: branch diff, commit diff, or working-copy diff.
4. Move through files with the keyboard and let the importance ordering surface the most relevant changes first.
5. Press c to add an inline comment, or use range selection for multi-line feedback.
6. Mark files reviewed by clicking the file header when you are done with a file.
7. If you want an agent to help, install the bundled skill and ask it to review or respond to the open threads.

The review tool exposes which-key style hints as you press keys, so only valid actions for the current state are shown.

Who it is for

slop-review is a good fit for developers who want a faster local review tool than a plain diff viewer. It is especially useful for people who:

• review their own branch before opening a PR
• want inline comments preserved as structured data
• use an LLM or coding agent to help address review notes
• prefer keyboard-heavy workflows over mouse-driven code review
• work in repos where a terminal-first setup is more convenient than a separate browser window

It is also a practical review tool for anyone experimenting with human-plus-agent review loops. Because the comments are stored locally, it can work as a private scratchpad for branch review before anything is shared elsewhere.

What to know before you use it

slop-review is intentionally narrow in scope, and that is worth understanding before you rely on it as a review tool.

• It is not a hosted code review platform like GitHub pull requests or GitLab merge requests.
• The LLM loop is based on local JSON files and a bundled Claude Code skill, not on a generic HTTP API.
• The app needs Node 20 or newer for the documented npx workflow.
• Terminal mode depends on Carbonyl, so the terminal experience is not the same as a native TUI.
• Reviewed marks are keyed to blob SHA, which is helpful for accuracy, but a later rewrite of a file can clear a prior review mark.
• The tool can help you inspect diffs and manage threads, but it does not replace source control history, CI, or an official PR review in a hosted platform when that is required.

For branch-level review, local commenting, and LLM-assisted thread handling, slop-review is a focused review tool. When you need authoritative approvals, audit trails, or repository-hosted collaboration, use the official platform instead.