# CodeCrab

A local-first desktop app for AI-assisted GitHub pull request reviews.

- Findings24: <https://findings24.com/products/codecrab-ai>
- Website: <https://www.codecrab.ai/>
- Pricing: Freemium
- Categories: AI Code Review, Developer Tools

## What is CodeCrab?

CodeCrab is a native desktop application for AI-assisted GitHub pull request reviews. It works against a repository’s local checkout, showing the file tree, diff, and inline observations while a live execution console records what ran. Its core purpose is to help engineers investigate code changes with repository context without uploading source code to an external review service.

The app uses local tools and existing authenticated sessions, including GitHub CLI (`gh`) and Claude Code. It is read-only toward GitHub and does not edit the local repository: users decide whether a finding becomes a comment, a bug, or a note. Repository profiles, selectable review skills, and optional Jira context let reviews reflect project conventions and the reason behind a change.

## What can CodeCrab do?

### Local-first review execution

Reviews run on the user’s computer against the local checkout. The source site states that code is not uploaded to vendor clouds or external cloud databases.

### Inline diff observations

CodeCrab loads the pull request’s file tree and changed lines, then places AI observations next to the code they reference for in-context investigation.

### Repository-aware review profiles

The app can generate a profile from a repository’s codebase, CI, and conventions, with evidence for the rules it identifies. Profiles can be regenerated after major changes.

### Selectable and custom review skills

Users can enable built-in passes such as security or test completeness, and can also select local Claude Code skills from repository or user skill directories.

### Read-only GitHub workflow

CodeCrab uses the GitHub CLI to read pull requests, diffs, and comments, but does not post comments, approve, commit, or push. The engineer controls any resulting action.

### Live execution and ticket context

A live console shows the review activity. Optional Jira setup can add linked ticket information, including an issue’s stated requirements, to the review context.

## Use Cases

### Review a teammate’s pull request

Open a pull request from CodeCrab’s list, inspect the complete local diff, and investigate findings against repository conventions before deciding what feedback to share.

### Clarify feedback on your own pull request

Use the My PRs workflow to investigate vague or unclear review comments with local code context and produce a fix prompt that can guide the next change.

### Check changes before pushing

Run a pre-push review against local changes that do not yet have a pull request, using the repository profile and selected skills to catch issues earlier.

### Apply deeper review to higher-risk changes

Enable an additional security or test-completeness pass when a change warrants extra scrutiny, rather than applying the same intensive review to every pull request.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Which platforms does CodeCrab support?

The documentation provides installation options for macOS, Windows, and Linux. macOS downloads are available for Apple Silicon and Intel; Linux packages include AppImage, Debian/Ubuntu, and Fedora/RHEL formats.

### What tools are required?

GitHub CLI (\`gh\`) and Claude Code are required. Both must be installed and authenticated on the computer. Jira is optional and can provide linked ticket context.

### Does CodeCrab upload source code or change GitHub?

The product states that source code stays on the laptop and is not uploaded to vendor clouds. CodeCrab is read-only toward GitHub: it does not post comments, approve, commit, or push.

### Can teams use their existing review instructions?

Yes. CodeCrab can recognize local Claude Code skills in \`.claude/skills\` or \`~/.claude/skills\`, and users can select those skills alongside CodeCrab’s repository-aware review skills.

### Can I try CodeCrab without connecting my own repository?

The documentation says the app includes a ready-to-test demo project, allowing users to explore review findings before connecting their own code.

## Quick Facts

- **Category**: Developer Tool; AI Code Review
- **Format**: Native desktop application
- **Supported platforms**: macOS, Windows, and Linux
- **Primary workflow**: Local AI-assisted GitHub pull request review
- **Required tools**: GitHub CLI (gh) and Claude Code
- **Optional context**: Jira ticket information and local review skills