Fetch Pending Review ID In Gh Pr-review: A Feature Request

Have you ever found yourself needing to fetch the pending review ID in gh pr-review and wished there was an easier way? This article dives into a feature request that aims to simplify this process, making your workflow smoother and more efficient. We'll explore the current challenges, the proposed solutions, and the benefits of implementing this enhancement. Let's get started!

The Challenge: Accessing Pending Review IDs

Currently, the gh pr-review extension requires the --review-id flag for certain actions, specifically when you want to review --add-comment or --submit approval on a pending review. The main hurdle here is that the extension doesn't provide a straightforward method to fetch this pending review ID. It only offers latest-id for reviews that have already been submitted. This limitation creates a significant gap in the workflow, forcing users to take extra steps to accomplish what should be a simple task.

Understanding the Current Behavior

Let's break down the current behavior to better understand the problem. When you use gh pr-review review --start, it successfully creates a pending review. However, it doesn't return the crucial pending review ID. On the other hand, gh pr-review review latest-id is only capable of retrieving IDs for submitted reviews, leaving pending reviews out of the equation. This discrepancy means that users are left in the dark when they need to interact with their pending reviews programmatically.

The Impact on User Workflows

The impact of this limitation is quite significant. Users who rely heavily on the gh pr-review extension for their daily tasks find themselves in a bind. To retrieve the pending review ID, they are forced to resort to calling gh api. This workaround not only interrupts the extension-only workflow but also adds unnecessary complexity to the process. Imagine having to switch between different tools and commands just to get a simple ID – it's far from ideal. This is why a more integrated solution is highly desirable.

The Proposed Solution: A Streamlined Approach

The core of the feature request is to introduce a more efficient way to fetch the pending review ID. Two primary solutions have been proposed, each with its own merits. Let's delve into these proposals and see how they aim to address the current challenges.

Option 1: Introducing a New Command/Flag

The first proposal suggests adding a new command or flag specifically designed to fetch the pending review ID. For instance, a command like gh pr-review review pending-id --pr <N> could be introduced. Here, <N> would represent the pull request number. This command would directly fetch the node_id (the unique identifier for the review) for the authenticated user on a specific pull request. This approach is clean, intuitive, and aligns well with the existing command structure of the gh pr-review extension.

Option 2: Enhancing the review --start Command

Alternatively, the feature request suggests modifying the behavior of the review --start command. Instead of just creating a pending review, it could be enhanced to return additional information. Specifically, it could return a JSON object containing the id, node_id, and state of the review. This would provide immediate access to the pending review ID upon creation or when an existing pending review is detected. This option ensures that the necessary information is readily available whenever a review is started or resumed.

Benefits: Streamlining Workflows and Enhancing User Experience

Implementing either of these solutions would bring a host of benefits to users of the gh pr-review extension. Let's explore the key advantages of this feature enhancement.

Enabling Fully Extension-Driven Workflows

Perhaps the most significant benefit is the ability to create fully extension-driven workflows. By providing a direct way to fetch the pending review ID, users can seamlessly add inline comments and submit approvals without ever having to leave the gh pr-review environment. This eliminates the need for manual API calls and reduces the cognitive load on the user, making the review process more efficient and enjoyable.

Simplifying Inline Comments and Approvals

Imagine being able to add comments and approve reviews with ease, all within the same tool. This feature enhancement makes that a reality. No more juggling between different commands and tools – everything you need is right at your fingertips. This streamlined approach not only saves time but also reduces the chances of errors, ensuring a smoother and more productive review process.

Eliminating the Need for gh api Workarounds

As we've discussed, the current workaround involves calling gh api to retrieve the pending review ID. This is not only cumbersome but also breaks the flow of an otherwise elegant extension-driven workflow. By implementing this feature request, we can eliminate this workaround altogether. Users can rely solely on gh pr-review for their review tasks, simplifying their workflow and reducing the learning curve for new users.

Conclusion: A Step Towards a More Efficient Review Process

In conclusion, the feature request to provide a way to fetch the pending review ID in gh pr-review is a significant step towards a more efficient and user-friendly review process. By addressing the current limitations and implementing one of the proposed solutions, we can empower users to create fully extension-driven workflows, simplify inline comments and approvals, and eliminate the need for cumbersome gh api workarounds. This enhancement will not only save time and effort but also improve the overall experience of using the gh pr-review extension.

This feature will make a significant difference in how developers interact with pull requests and reviews. By streamlining the process of fetching pending review IDs, it paves the way for a more efficient, intuitive, and enjoyable code review experience. Let's hope this feature makes its way into future releases of gh pr-review!

For more information on GitHub's pull request review process, you can check out the official documentation on GitHub's website. This will provide you with a deeper understanding of the best practices and features available for code reviews on GitHub.