Using AI tooling for code review

The development of ACKtopus, a Tampermonkey browser userscript, represents an innovative approach to enhancing the GitHub review process, particularly for Bitcoin Core PR reviews. This tool is designed to alleviate common frustrations encountered during code review on GitHub by introducing a variety of features aimed at streamlining the workflow. Among its capabilities are functions to copy the latest hash for ACKing, commands for running modified tests or benchmarks, tools for copying PR commit or comment context for external LLMs, and features that provide inline commit/PR summaries and explanations. Additionally, it offers selection-based actions such as explain, fact-check, and proofread, alongside utilities meant to assist with pending reviews and range-diff re-reviews.

Notably, ACKtopus integrates several automation features to enhance review efficiency. These include auto-collapsing unrelated files after force-push compares and prefixing commit-hash in draft review comments. It also incorporates LLM-assisted tools for posing questions about comments, complete with navigation aids, thereby facilitating a more in-depth review process. Despite its comprehensive suite of features, the creator of ACKtopus cautions that the tool is not yet stable and advises against relying solely on it for review judgments. Instead, it is presented as a means to accelerate reviews and reduce the inherent friction associated with GitHub's review mechanism.

The rationale behind developing and sharing ACKtopus stems from the recognition of the challenges faced during the review process and the potential of LLMs to make reviews both easier and safer. In light of the scarcity of thorough reviews and the advanced capabilities of contemporary LLMs, the deployment of tools like ACKtopus is advocated as a strategy to leverage every available resource to simplify and secure the review process. While ACKtopus is specifically tailored for Bitcoin Core PR reviews, its individual features offer valuable insights that could be adapted for broader applications, suggesting its utility as a source of inspiration for developers seeking to optimize their own review workflows. For more information or to explore ACKtopus further, one can visit its GitHub page at ACKtopus.