attach-review-to-pr

What the source does

• FilesystemNone observedNo reads or writes in the source
• NetworkNone observedNo outbound calls in the source
• ShellNone observedNo commands run in the source
• DependenciesPinnedNothing floats
• SecretsNone foundNo keys in source

Five audit layers

Gates applied: no behavioural pass.

Audit 0.4.1 · source sha c64c9eb3b29e · 27 Oct 2026Report an issue or request a re-scan

• Publisherneolabhq GitHub organizationOwner of the repository this skill is read from
• Source folderneolabhq/context-engineering-kit/skills/attach-review-to-prThe exact folder we audited
• LicenceGPL-3.0As the repository states it
• Commit pinned for this verdictc64c9eb3b29eA new audit runs when the source changes
• Repository statusNot archivedLast push 61 days ago
• Sandboxed runNot runSkills are read, not executed; layer L4 is skipped

Its description: Add line-specific review comments to pull requests using GitHub CLI API

---
name: attach-review-to-pr
description: Add line-specific review comments to pull requests using GitHub CLI API
---

# How to Attach Line-Specific Review Comments to Pull Requests

This guide explains how to add line-specific review comments to pull requests using the GitHub CLI (`gh`) API or `mcp__github_inline_comment__create_inline_comment` if it not available, similar to how the GitHub UI allows commenting on specific lines of code.

## Preferred Approach: Using MCP GitHub Tools

**If available**, use the `mcp__github_inline_comment__create_inline_comment` MCP tool for posting line-specific inline comments on pull requests. This approach provides better integration with GitHub's UI and is the recommended method.

**Fallback**: If the MCP tool is not available, use the GitHub CLI (`gh`) API methods described below:

- For single comments: Use the `/comments` endpoint (see [Adding a Single Line-Specific Comment](#adding-a-single-line-specific-comment))
- For multiple comments: Use the `/reviews` endpoint (see [Adding Multiple Line-Specific Comments Together](#adding-multiple-line-specific-comments-together))

## Overview

While `gh pr review` provides basic review functionality (approve, request changes, general comments), it **does not support line-specific comments directly**. To add comments on specific lines of code, you must use the lower-level `gh api` command to call GitHub's REST API directly.

## Prerequisites

1. GitHub CLI installed and authenticated:

   ```bash
   gh auth status
   ```

2. Access to the repository and pull request you want to review

## Understanding GitHub's Review Comment System

GitHub has two types of PR comments:

1. **Issue Comments** - General comments on the PR conversation
2. **Review Comments** - Line-specific comments on code changes

Review comments can be added in two ways:

- **Single comment** - Using the `/pulls/{pr}/comments` endpoint
- **Review with multiple comments** - Using the `/pulls/{pr}/reviews` endpoint

## Adding a Single Line-Specific Comment

### Basic Syntax

```bash
gh api repos/{owner}/{repo}/pulls/{pr_number}/comments \
  -f body='Your comment text here' \
  -f commit_id='<commit-sha>' \
  -f path='path/to/file.js' \
  -F line=42 \
  -f side='RIGHT'
```

### Parameters Explained

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|-------------|
| `body` | string | Yes | The text of the review comment (supports Markdown) |
| `commit_id` | string | Yes | The SHA of the commit to comment on |
| `path` | string | Yes | Relative path to the file being commented on |
| `line` | integer | Yes | The line number in the diff (use `-F` for integers) |
| `side` | string | Yes | `RIGHT` for new/modified lines, `LEFT` for deleted lines |
| `start_line` | integer | No | For multi-line comments, the starting line |
| `start_side` | string | No | For multi-line comments, the starting side |

### Parameter Flags

- `-f` (--field) - For string values
- `-F` (--field) - For integer values (note the capital F)

### Complete Example

```bash
# First, get the latest commit SHA for the PR
gh api repos/NeoLabHQ/learning-platform-app/pulls/4 --jq '.head.sha'

# Then add your comment
gh api repos/NeoLabHQ/learning-platform-app/pulls/4/comments \
  -f body='Consider adding error handling here. Should we confirm the lesson was successfully marked as completed before navigating away?' \
  -f commit_id='e152d0dd6cf498467eadbeb638bf05abe11c64d4' \
  -f path='src/components/LessonNavigationButtons.tsx' \
  -F line=26 \
  -f side='RIGHT'
```

### Understanding Line Numbers

The `line` parameter refers to the **position in the diff**, not the absolute line number in the file:

- For **new files**: Line numbers match the file's line numbers
- For **modified files**: Use the line number as it appears in the "Files changed" tab
- For **multi-line comments**: Use `start_line` and `line` to specify the range

### Response

On success, returns a JSON object with comment details:

```json
{
  "id": 2532291222,
  "pull_request_review_id": 3470545909,
  "path": "src/components/LessonNavigationButtons.tsx",
  "line": 26,
  "body": "Consider adding error handling here...",
  "html_url": "https://github.com/NeoLabHQ/learning-platform-app/pull/4#discussion_r2532291222",
  "created_at": "2025-11-16T22:40:46Z"
}
```

## Adding Multiple Line-Specific Comments Together

To add multiple comments across different files in a single review, use the `/reviews` endpoint with JSON input.

### Why Use Reviews for Multiple Comments?

- **Atomic operation** - All comments are added together
- **Single notification** - Doesn't spam with multiple notifications
- **Better UX** - Appears as one cohesive review
- **Same mechanism as GitHub UI** - "Start a review" → "Finish review"

### Basic Syntax

```bash
cat <<'EOF' | gh api repos/{owner}/{repo}/pulls/{pr_number}/reviews --input -
{
  "event": "COMMENT",
  "body": "Overall review summary (optional)",
  "comments": [
    {
      "path": "file1.tsx",
      "body": "Comment on file 1",
      "side": "RIGHT",
      "line": 15
    },
    {
      "path": "file2.tsx",
      "body": "Comment on file 2",
      "side": "RIGHT",
      "line": 30
    }
  ]
}
EOF
```

### Review Event Types

| Event | Description | When to Use |
|-------|-------------|-------------|
| `COMMENT` | General review comment | Just leaving feedback without approval |
| `APPROVE` | Approve the PR | Changes look good, ready to merge |
| `REQUEST_CHANGES` | Request changes | Issues that must be fixed before merge |

### Complete Example

```bash
cat <<'EOF' | gh api repos/NeoLabHQ/learning-platform-app/pulls/4/reviews --input -
{
  "event": "COMMENT",
  "body": "Testing multiple line-specific comments via gh api",
  "comments": [
    {
      "path": "src/components/CourseCard.tsx",
      "body": "Test comment generated by Claude",
      "side": "RIGHT",
      "line": 15
    },
    {
      "path": "src/components/CourseProgressWidget.tsx",
      "

Excerpt, first 6,000 characters of SKILL.md, verbatim from the audited commit. It is text from someone else’s repository, quoted so you can judge it before your agent reads it.

git clone https://github.com/neolabhq/context-engineering-kit
git -C context-engineering-kit checkout c64c9eb3b29e

Works in

1. 2026-10-27
   ✓SAFE B 89 / 100

   first audit · source c64c9eb3b29e

Questions about attach-review-to-pr

• github.com/neolabhq/context-engineering-kit/tree/master/skills/a — the audited source at commit c64c9eb3b29e and every finding aboveObserved · 27 Oct 2026

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