The diff is the source of truth for scope; a summary is only the agent’s interpretation.
The decision behind the technique
Summaries can omit generated files, broad refactors or accidental changes. A full diff plus repository status exposes what will actually be committed.
The diff is the source of truth for scope; a summary is only the agent’s interpretation.
A practical step-by-step workflow
Use this sequence as a default, then tighten or expand it only when the evidence changes.
- Read repository status including untracked files
- Review the full diff without truncation
- Compare every changed file with the requested scope
- Run checks against the exact final state
Failure boundary and finish line
Never discard an unrelated change until you know whether it belongs to another person or task.
Finish when another person can reproduce the check against the exact final state.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first?+
Read repository status including untracked files
What is the main failure mode?+
Never discard an unrelated change until you know whether it belongs to another person or task.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Verify against the source
OpenAI code review guidanceThis guide provides general information, not an OpenAI allowance promise or support decision. Your account and official pages govern actual usage, benefits and recovery times.