# Create a read-only Claude Code reviewer

> Give a review subagent only the file-reading tools it needs.

Source: https://fullbytedeveloper.com/blog/claude-code-readonly-reviewer
Originally posted: 2026-10-23
Published here: 2026-11-06

A Claude Code subagent can review files with its own instructions and restricted tools. The official documentation includes a reviewer that has Read, Glob and Grep, without editing tools. [1]

## Create the reviewer file

Save this configuration, based on the documented reviewer example, as `.claude/agents/code-reviewer.md` in your project: [1]

```markdown
---
name: code-reviewer
description: Reviews code for quality and best practices
tools: Read, Glob, Grep
model: sonnet
---

Review the specified files. Report concrete defects and their locations.
```

The project directory shares the agent with that repository. A personal agent belongs under `~/.claude/agents/`. The body supplies its instructions; the frontmatter selects its tools and model. [1]

## Give it a specific review

Ask Claude to use the code-reviewer on a named file or change. Inspect the returned findings against the code. This tool list cannot run tests, so a review from this agent does not establish that the tests passed.

Keep fixes in a separate step. Review the proposed edits before applying them.

## Sources

1. [Claude Code custom subagents](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/sub-agents)

## Original posts

- [Instagram post](https://www.instagram.com/fullbytedeveloper/p/De0cs-IjlHj/)