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Build guide

How to Build a Pull Request Review Agent

By The Learn Cursor Editorial TeamUpdated

Build a pull request review agent by giving it the diff, repo rules, test status and review criteria. The agent should comment on risks, not rewrite the whole PR by default. The output should help a human reviewer move faster.

Cover image for How to Build a Pull Request Review Agent

How do you build pull request review agent?

  1. 1Define the trigger: issue, PR, failed CI job, docs change or support ticket.
  2. 2Limit tool access to the files and systems the agent needs.
  3. 3Add a plan step before writes.
  4. 4Run checks and produce a short reviewer handoff.
  5. 5Log the prompt, changed files, commands and result.
Minimal agent job shape
type AgentJob = {
  task: string;
  context: string[];
  allowedTools: string[];
  checks: string[];
  handoff: "diff" | "comment" | "pull_request";
};
Build path

Interactive diagram. Use Tab to move through hotspots or use the step controls when shown.

TriggerContextToolsPatchHandoff▲ GATE
1/5
Trigger: Start from a PR, issue or CI failure.
Review-agent output

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Review call

src/api/billing.ts

Touches billing behavior. Require a regression test and reviewer signoff.

  • Read every changed file.
  • Check whether the prompt allowed this scope.
  • Run the narrowest command that proves the change.

A review agent should point to risk and proof, not replace the reviewer.

What can go wrong?

Too much scope

The agent touches files outside the task.

Weak checks

The handoff says done without test or review proof.

Tool risk

The agent gets broad access when narrow access would work.

Frequently asked questions

Who is How to Build a Pull Request Review Agent for?

AI engineers and DevEx teams building review automation.

What makes this page credible?

The tutorial defines trigger, context, tools, checks and handoff.

What should I do next?

Start with one real repo task, capture the prompt and review the result before scaling the workflow.

Sources & last verified

Cursor ships frequently. Facts verified against primary sources on June 23, 2026.

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