Real-world Copilot code review instructions examples from public GitHub repos

copilot-review-instructions-examples.md

Real-World Copilot Code Review Instructions Examples

A curated list of .github/instructions/code-review.instructions.md and similar files found across public GitHub repositories.

Highlights

Highly Customized (Project-Specific Rules)

• dragonflydb/dragonfly — C++ in-memory datastore. Severity tiers (critical/important/suggestion), project-specific anti-patterns with code examples (e.g. "NEVER use std::mutex"), false positive suppression section, example good vs bad comments.
• kumahq/kuma — CNCF service mesh (Go). CoVe (Chain of Verification) methodology — mandatory 3-step verify/answer/self-critique process. Confidence thresholds (95%+ block, 80%+ change, 70%+ comment, <70% skip). Kuma-specific checks for xDS, KDS, policy patterns.
• apache/hudi-rs — Apache Hudi Rust lakehouse. Multi-round review behavior (handles subsequent commits), Hudi-specific semantics (timeline ops, partition pruning), Arrow/DataFusion integration checks, Rust-specific patterns (unwrap() flags, error context).
• plentymarkets/plentyshop-pwa — Vue/Nuxt e-commerce PWA. Detailed component architecture rules (composables vs modules, @storefront-ui/vue usage), test philosophy (avoid testing implementation details), block/settings backward compatibility requirements.
• BrasilAPI/BrasilAPI — Brazilian public API (Node.js). Written in Portuguese. Extremely thorough — mandatory rejection criteria (breaking API changes, missing docs, missing E2E tests), cost awareness (Vercel hosting), full review template with decision framework. One of the most complete examples.
• botpress/growth — Chatbot platform (TypeScript). Comment categories with emoji tags (issue/suggestion/question/praise/todo/nitpick), real examples from actual PRs, special sections for new integrations vs bug fixes vs features.
• kaltura/server — Media platform (PHP). Detailed PHP coding conventions (naming, indentation, spacing), custom prompts for different review modes (security audit, performance check, dependency review, cache invalidation).
• gregrickaby/viewer-for-reddit — Next.js 16 app. P1/P2/P3 priority levels, extensive correct vs incorrect code examples for every pattern (XSS, race conditions, data fetching), explicit approval criteria checklist.

Concise & Opinionated (Strong Signal-to-Noise)

• Amsterdam/zwd-backend — Django DRF. Short and punchy. Strong "What NOT to Comment On" section. Good vs bad comment examples showing the difference between hedging ("consider adding an index") and being direct ("Add database index on created_at").
• UltimateHackingKeyboard/firmware — Embedded C firmware. Just 3 lines: focus on functional aspects, don't flag magic constants unless truly needed, don't complain about missing comments without good reason.
• dentsusoken/iPLAss — Java low-code platform. Uses prefix tags ([must], [imo], [ask], [nits], [fyi]). Reviews written in Japanese.
• allegro/blog — Tech blog. Minimal — just points to a checklist in the main copilot-instructions.md for reviewing blog posts.

Framework-Specific

• sergeyklay/oar — Python project. Scope-based (correctness, type safety, architecture, performance, security, style). "Reject On Sight" list (any type, direct DB imports in components, dead code without issue ref). Documentation hygiene rules.
• radius-project/radius — Microsoft cloud-native platform (Go). Step-by-step review process (analyze → feedback → validate). Detailed unit test review criteria. References language-specific sub-instructions.
• OpenCTI-Platform/opencti — Cyber threat intelligence platform. Generic security/performance/quality checklist with code examples.

More Repositories

.github/instructions/code-review.instructions.md

• mixpanel/mixpanel-android
• mixpanel/mixpanel-flutter
• jenkinsci/explain-error-plugin
• JasonXuDeveloper/JEngine
• jonathan-vella/azure-agentic-infraops
• Automattic/vip-cli
• duc01226/EasyPlatform
• codesnippetspro/code-snippets
• netresearch/t3x-rte_ckeditor_image
• arolariu/arolariu.ro
• Serph91P/StreamVault
• DandyLyons/FrontRange
• StarCruiseStudios/PhxInject
• bangbang93/nanoda
• agentscope-ai/agentscope-java
• bcgov/ai-hub-tracking
• chibimoons/flowdux
• Sital1/KakuroSolver
• minnelab/MAIA
• aonyx-ai/clawless

Other Review Instruction Filenames

• Azure/azure-rest-api-specs — ARM API review
• Azure/azure-rest-api-specs — OpenAPI review
• spica-engine/spica — "Gilfoyle" persona reviewer
• eqtylab/cupcake — PR review
• mittwald/terraform-provider-mittwald — Terraform provider
• TheSethRose/Copilot-Skills — Security-focused review
• sammcj/smcleod — Technical review
• powrstack/powrstack-folio — Architecture review

.copilot-review-instructions.md / .github/copilot-review-instructions.md

• softwareone-platform/mpt-mobile-platform
• route4me/route4me-net-core
• arcmoonstudios/aklypse
• MartinP7r/AckGen
• junglebarry/ddd-shipping

Other Formats

• github/awesome-copilot — code-review-generic.instructions.md — GitHub's official example template.
• quartznet/quartznet — Uses .ai-team-templates/ directory.
• wp-document-revisions/wp-document-revisions — Uses root .copilot-instructions.md.
• honkit/honkit — Uses root .copilot-instructions.md.
• microsoft/codespace-features — Uses root .copilot-instructions.md.

How to Search for More

# Search for code-review instruction files
gh api 'search/code?q=filename:code-review.instructions.md+path:.github/instructions&per_page=100' \
  --jq '.items[] | "\(.repository.full_name) -> \(.path)"'

# Search for review instruction files (broader)
gh api 'search/code?q=filename:review.instructions.md+path:.github/instructions&per_page=50' \
  --jq '.items[] | "\(.repository.full_name) -> \(.path)"'

# Search copilot-review-instructions.md
gh api 'search/code?q=filename:copilot-review-instructions.md&per_page=50' \
  --jq '.items[] | "\(.repository.full_name) -> \(.path)"'

# Search copilot-instructions.md mentioning "code review"
gh search code --filename copilot-instructions.md "code review"