Make It Review Its Own Diff
'Done' is a claim, not a fact. Before accepting changes say: 'check these changes before I accept — look for real errors, not formatting'. The agent regularly finds its own bugs, and the closing phrase stops it nitpicking commas instead of logic.
Why it works
'Done' is a claim the agent makes about its own work, and it is exactly as reliable as any author reviewing themselves. One sentence — review these changes before I accept, real errors only — triggers a genuinely useful self-audit that regularly surfaces its own bugs. The closing clause matters: without 'not formatting', the review drowns you in comma opinions instead of logic.
How to do it
- The agent says done; a diff is waiting. Don't accept yet.
- Send the review request: real errors, not formatting.
- It re-reads its own changes with fresh instructions — author becomes auditor.
- Read what it finds; let it fix its own findings.
- Ask for one re-check after fixes, then accept.
- For client-facing work, add the strongest form: 'prove it works — run it and show me.'
Copy this
prompt
Check these changes before I accept them. Look for real errors — broken logic, things that won't run, edge cases, security holes — not formatting or style. List what you find, then fix it.
What to watch for
- Skipping the clause gets you a linter, not a reviewer — style nitpicks feel like diligence while the actual bug sails through.
- A pass that finds nothing at all deserves suspicion once — follow with 'what would break this on a phone / with empty data / at 10x size?'
Sources
Original: conon.aiDocumentation: code.claude.com