Instructions to the Agent

How Users Influence Behavior (Pro)

Pro users can add custom instructions that modify review behavior:

1. Go to Settings → AI Configuration
2. Add your instructions in the Custom Prompt field
3. Instructions are appended to the base review prompt

Examples of Good Instructions

Focus on security issues in authentication code.

Ignore style suggestions - we have a linter for that.
Prioritize performance issues in database queries.

This is a React project using TypeScript.
Check for proper hook usage and dependency arrays.

Examples of Bad Instructions

Be nice and give lots of positive feedback.

→ Adds noise without value

Review everything in extreme detail.

→ Vague and increases token usage without direction

Only review files I care about.

→ Not actionable; use file exclusions instead

Priority Rules If Conflicts Exist

When instructions conflict with defaults:

1. Explicit instructions win — Your custom prompts take precedence
2. Safety limits apply — File size and count limits are always enforced
3. Severity classification is preserved — You can't disable severity levels

Best Practices

• Be specific and actionable
• Focus on what to prioritize, not what to avoid
• Keep instructions under 500 characters
• Update instructions as your project evolves