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Epic 7, Story 2: Code Review Standards and Processes

Status: COMPLETE
Priority: MEDIUM
Last updated: 2026-01-05 (v0.7.2.4+0 – Story COMPLETE: All tasks complete - Code review standards, checklists, workflows, and Kanban integration established)
Estimated Effort: [TBD]
Actual Effort: [TBD]
Started: 2026-01-05
Completed: 2026-01-05
Version: v0.7.2.4+0
Code: E7S02

Task Checklist​

  • E7:S02:T01 – Document code review standards and guidelines - ✅ COMPLETE (v0.7.2.1+0 – Code review standards and guidelines documented: comprehensive standards covering quality, security, testing, documentation, style, and architecture, with reviewer guidelines)
  • E7:S02:T02 – Create code review checklist templates - ✅ COMPLETE (v0.7.2.2+0 – Code review checklist templates created: comprehensive templates for feature additions, bug fixes, refactoring, documentation, configuration, security, performance, and quick/comprehensive reviews)
  • E7:S02:T03 – Establish code review workflow processes - ✅ COMPLETE (v0.7.2.3+0 – Code review workflow processes established: comprehensive workflows for standard features, bug fixes, refactoring, documentation, and configuration changes, with tool integration)
  • E7:S02:T04 – Integrate code review with Kanban framework - ✅ COMPLETE (v0.7.2.4+0 – Code review integrated with Kanban framework: task creation, status tracking, metrics tracking, workflow integration, and Epic 4 integration established)

Format: Exx:Sxx:Txx (Epic, Story, Task with 2-digit zero padding, e.g., E7:S02:T01, E7:S02:T02)
Forensic Marker Format: ✅ COMPLETE (vRC.E.S.T+B) (e.g., ✅ COMPLETE (v0.7.2.3+1))
Release Workflow Requirement: When Release Workflow (RW) Step 4 updates Epic documentation, it MUST update ALL sections:

  • Epic header Last updated field
  • Epic Story Checklist (status and version markers)
  • Epic detailed story sections (Status, Last updated, task checkboxes)
  • Story file Task Checklist (this section)
  • Story file detailed task sections
  • Any other references to this story/task

Consistency Check: After each RW, verify that Story file, Epic header, Epic Story Checklist, and Epic detailed sections all match.

Overview​

This story defines code review standards and processes to ensure consistent code quality and maintainability across the ai-dev-kit project. It establishes guidelines, checklists, workflows, and Kanban integration for systematic code review practices.

Goals​

  • Document comprehensive code review standards and guidelines
  • Create reusable code review checklist templates
  • Establish clear code review workflow processes
  • Integrate code review practices with Kanban framework

Tasks​

E7:S02:T01 – Document code review standards and guidelines​

Format: Always use full Exx:Sxx:Txx format (e.g., E7:S02:T01, not T01 alone)

Input: Current code review practices, industry best practices, project requirements
Deliverable: Comprehensive code review standards and guidelines document
Dependencies: None
Blocker: None
Parallel Development Candidacy: Safe (can develop independently)

Approach:

  1. Research code review best practices and industry standards
  2. Analyze current code review practices in the project
  3. Define code review standards covering:
    • Code quality criteria (readability, maintainability, performance)
    • Security considerations
    • Testing requirements
    • Documentation standards
    • Style and formatting guidelines
    • Architecture and design principles
  4. Document guidelines for reviewers:
    • Review focus areas
    • Feedback best practices
    • Communication guidelines
    • Escalation procedures
  5. Create standards document in docs/architecture/standards-and-adrs/

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Code review standards document created
  • Standards cover all key areas (quality, security, testing, documentation, style, architecture)
  • Guidelines for reviewers documented
  • Standards align with project goals and practices
  • Document follows project documentation standards

E7:S02:T02 – Create code review checklist templates​

Input: Code review standards (T01), project requirements
Deliverable: Reusable code review checklist templates
Dependencies: E7:S02:T01 (standards provide foundation)
Blocker: None
Parallel Development Candidacy: Safe (can develop independently)

Approach:

  1. Design checklist structure based on code review standards
  2. Create comprehensive checklist templates covering:
    • Functional correctness
    • Code quality and readability
    • Security considerations
    • Testing coverage
    • Documentation completeness
    • Performance implications
    • Architecture and design
    • Style and formatting
  3. Create specialized checklists for different types of changes:
    • Feature additions
    • Bug fixes
    • Refactoring
    • Documentation updates
    • Configuration changes
  4. Create checklist templates in docs/architecture/standards-and-adrs/
  5. Provide examples and usage guidance

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Code review checklist templates created
  • Checklists cover all key review areas
  • Specialized checklists available for different change types
  • Templates are reusable and customizable
  • Usage guidance and examples provided

E7:S02:T03 – Establish code review workflow processes​

Input: Code review standards (T01), checklist templates (T02), current workflows
Deliverable: Documented code review workflow processes
Dependencies: E7:S02:T01, E7:S02:T02
Blocker: None
Parallel Development Candidacy: Safe (can develop independently)

Approach:

  1. Analyze current code review practices and workflows
  2. Design standard code review workflow covering:
    • Pre-review preparation
    • Review initiation and assignment
    • Review execution process
    • Feedback and iteration cycles
    • Approval and merge procedures
    • Post-review follow-up
  3. Define workflow variations for:
    • Standard feature development
    • Bug fixes and hotfixes
    • Large refactoring efforts
    • Documentation-only changes
  4. Integrate with existing development workflows (Epic 2)
  5. Document workflow processes in docs/architecture/standards-and-adrs/
  6. Provide workflow diagrams and examples

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Code review workflow processes documented
  • Standard workflow defined and clear
  • Workflow variations documented for different scenarios
  • Integration with existing workflows established
  • Workflow diagrams and examples provided

E7:S02:T04 – Integrate code review with Kanban framework​

Input: Code review standards (T01), checklist templates (T02), workflow processes (T03), Kanban framework
Deliverable: Code review integrated with Kanban framework
Dependencies: E7:S02:T01, E7:S02:T02, E7:S02:T03, Epic 4 (Kanban Framework)
Blocker: None
Parallel Development Candidacy: Safe (can develop independently)

Approach:

  1. Review Epic 4 (Kanban Framework) integration points
  2. Design Kanban integration for code review:
    • Task creation for review work
    • Status tracking through review lifecycle
    • Priority assignment for reviews
    • Review metrics and tracking
  3. Integrate review checklists with Kanban task documents
  4. Create examples of code review tasks in Kanban
  5. Document integration usage and best practices
  6. Update Kanban documentation with code review patterns

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Code review integrated with Kanban framework
  • Review tasks can be tracked through Kanban
  • Integration with Epic 4 (Kanban Framework) established
  • Examples demonstrate Kanban usage for code review
  • Documentation updated with integration details

Acceptance Criteria​

  • Code review standards and guidelines documented
  • Review checklist templates created
  • Code review workflow processes established
  • Integration with Kanban framework completed

Dependencies​

Coordinates With:

  • Epic 4 (Kanban Framework): Uses Kanban for tracking review tasks
  • Epic 2 (Workflow Management): Integrates with development workflows
  • Epic 7:S01 (Codebase Maintenance Tasks): Benefits from maintenance workflow patterns

Parallel Development Dependencies:

  • Benefits from Story 1 (Codebase Maintenance Tasks)
  • Parallel Development Candidacy: Safe (can proceed independently)

References​

  • packages/frameworks/kanban/templates/CANONICAL_EPICS.md - Canonical epic definitions
  • docs/project-management/kanban/epics/Epic-7/Epic-7.md - Epic 7 overview
  • docs/project-management/kanban/epics/Epic-4/Epic-4.md - Kanban Framework epic
  • docs/project-management/kanban/epics/Epic-7/Story-001-codebase-maintenance-tasks.md - Story 1 (maintenance workflows)

Last updated: 2026-01-05 (v0.7.2.4+0 – Story COMPLETE: All tasks complete - Code review standards, checklists, workflows, and Kanban integration established)