How to Automate Code Review with AI in 20 Minutes

If you've ever spent hours sifting through pull requests, you know how tedious code reviews can be. As indie hackers and solo founders, our time is precious, and we can't afford to waste it on repetitive tasks. Automating code reviews with AI can drastically improve our workflow, allowing us to focus on building and shipping products.

In this guide, I'll show you how to set up an AI-powered code review system in just 20 minutes. We'll explore several tools, their pricing, and what worked for us.

Prerequisites: What You Need to Get Started

Before diving in, make sure you have the following:

1. A GitHub or GitLab account: Most AI code review tools integrate with these platforms.
2. Basic understanding of Git: Familiarity with pull requests (PRs) will help you navigate the process.
3. A project repository: Have a project ready for review.

Step 1: Choose Your AI Code Review Tool

Here are some tools that can help automate your code reviews. I’ve tested a few of them in our projects, so I’ll share honest insights.

| Tool Name | Pricing | Best For | Limitations | Our Take | |--------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| | Codacy | Free tier + $15/mo pro | Automated code quality checks | Limited language support | We use this for PHP and JavaScript. | | DeepSource | Free for open source + $12/mo | Continuous code analysis | Can miss context-specific issues | Good for ongoing projects. | | Reviewable | $15/mo per user | Lightweight reviews | Lacks deep integration with CI/CD | We don’t use it as it’s too basic. | | SonarCloud | Free tier + $30/mo pro | Comprehensive code analysis | Can be overkill for small projects | We like it for larger codebases. | | CodeGuru | $19/mo per repository | Java and Python projects | Limited to AWS ecosystem | Useful but expensive for indie devs. | | Snyk | Free tier + $39/mo pro | Security vulnerability checks | Not focused on code quality | We use this for security audits. | | PullReview | $29/mo, no free tier | Focused code reviews | Limited customization options | We don’t use it due to cost. | | CodeScene | $29/mo, no free tier | Behavioral code analysis | Can be complex to set up | We found it useful for understanding team dynamics. | | HoundCI | Free tier + $15/mo pro | Style guide enforcement | Only checks style issues | We use it to enforce coding standards. | | CodeClimate | Free tier + $16/mo pro | Code quality metrics | Can be overwhelming with too many metrics | We prefer simpler tools. |

Step 2: Set Up Your Tool

Let’s go with Codacy for this example, as it strikes a balance between functionality and cost. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Sign Up: Create an account at Codacy.
2. Connect Your Repository: Link your GitHub or GitLab account and select your project.
3. Configure Settings: Decide on the checks you want (e.g., code style, complexity).
4. Integrate with CI/CD: If you’re using GitHub Actions or similar, set up the integration to run checks automatically on PRs.

Expected output: You should see a dashboard with code quality metrics and feedback on your code.

Step 3: Automate the Review Process

Once set up, Codacy will automatically analyze your code on each pull request. You'll receive instant feedback on issues, which you can address before merging.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Tool Not Analyzing PRs: Check if the integration is active and properly configured in your repository settings.
• Missing Feedback: Ensure that your configuration includes the checks you want to be performed.

What's Next?

Now that you've automated code reviews, consider these next steps:

• Explore additional features of your chosen tool, like security checks.
• Set up notifications for code quality issues in your team chat.
• Regularly review and update your code quality settings as your project evolves.

Conclusion: Start Here

If you're still doing manual code reviews, you’re wasting valuable time. Start by setting up Codacy or another tool from this list. In our experience, automating code reviews has saved us hours and improved our code quality significantly.