---

name: golang-cli-review description: | Comprehensive code review for Golang CLI applications. Produces an actionable checklist covering error handling, CLI framework patterns (Cobra/urfave), testing, performance, security, and Go idioms.

TRIGGERS: Review Go CLI, review golang command-line, code review .go CLI, audit CLI application, check golang tool, review cobra app

Go CLI Code Review

Review Go CLI applications and produce an actionable checklist of findings.

Review Workflow

1. Gather code - Read all Go files in the CLI project
2. Analyze - Evaluate against review categories (see below)
3. Produce checklist - Use template from references/review-checklist.md

Review Categories

Evaluate each area systematically:

CLI Structure & Framework

• Framework usage (prefer Cobra for complex CLIs)
• Command hierarchy and discoverability
• Help text quality with examples
• Version command following semver

Error Handling

• RunE vs Run (must return errors)
• Error wrapping with %w and context
• User-facing error actionability
• Meaningful exit codes (0=success, 1=error, 2=usage)
• No panics in normal paths

Flag & Argument Design

• Lowercase-kebab-case naming
• Short flags for common options (-v, -o, -q)
• Required flags marked and validated early
• Sensible defaults
• Clear descriptions

Input/Output

• stderr for errors/progress, stdout for data
• Machine-readable output support (--json, --format)
• Quiet and verbose mode support
• Non-TTY mode handling (no prompts)

Security

• Secrets via env vars or files, never flags
• Path traversal prevention
• No shell injection
• URL scheme validation
• No sensitive data in logs

Testing

• Command-level unit tests
• Error path coverage
• Integration tests for critical flows

Performance & Resources

• Context-based cancellation
• Signal handling (SIGINT/SIGTERM)
• Proper resource cleanup (defer)
• No goroutine leaks

Go Idioms

• Effective Go style compliance
• Immediate error handling
• Package naming conventions
• Interface/struct patterns

Reference Material

For patterns and examples, see references/cli-patterns.md.

Output Format

Use the checklist template from references/review-checklist.md:

Copy## Critical Issues
- [ ] **[C1]** `file.go:123` - Description
  - **Impact:** ...
  - **Fix:** ...

## Warnings
- [ ] **[W1]** `file.go:45` - Description
  - **Why:** ...
  - **Fix:** ...

## Suggestions
- [ ] **[S1]** `file.go:78` - Description
  - **Consider:** ...

## Positive Patterns
- **[P1]** `file.go:90` - What was done well

Severity levels:

• Critical: Security issues, crashes, data loss - must fix
• Warning: Bugs, anti-patterns, maintenance concerns - should fix
• Suggestion: Style, optimization, minor improvements - nice to have
• Positive: Good practices worth highlighting