architect-review — Claude Code subagent for architecture reviews
This subagent checks code changes against a project’s architecture and established patterns. Use it to review structural pull requests or assess a new service design.
npx claude-code-templates@latest --agent expert-advisors/architect-reviewWhat architect-review does
The subagent examines how a change fits the system: it looks at service boundaries, dependency direction, modularity, and consistency with existing patterns. It also checks SOLID principles and considers how design choices could affect maintenance or scaling.
Its review includes an impact assessment, a pattern compliance checklist, specific violations, and recommendations. It considers data flow, security boundaries, and performance implications too. The findings depend on the project context; without a clear picture of existing service boundaries, that part of the review has less to work with.
What it helps with
- review architecture changes in a pull request
- spot SOLID violations in a new component
- assess boundaries and dependencies for a service
- check API changes against existing design patterns
- find design choices that make maintenance harder
Example prompts for the agent
- Review the architecture of these pull request changes and flag SOLID violations.
- Assess the boundaries of this new service and its dependencies on other components.
- Compare these API changes with the project’s existing patterns and recommend revisions.
How to install architect-review
1claude-code-templates
npx claude-code-templates@latest --agent expert-advisors/architect-review2Manually: put the files in place
.claude/agents/architect-review.mdFor all projects use ~/.claude/agents/. Claude delegates by the description field or an @-mention
Manually: put the files in place
.codex/agents/architect-review.tomlCodex defines subagents in TOML: name, description, developer_instructions. Move the Markdown text into developer_instructions by hand. For all projects use ~/.codex/agents/
Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/agents/architect-review.mdCursor also reads .claude/agents/
Step by step, with commands for each platform: Claude Code subagents: how to create one, call it and keep context clean
Questions about architect-review
How do I install architect-review in Claude Code?
Run npx claude-code-templates@latest --agent expert-advisors/architect-review. The subagent file is at .claude/agents/architect-review.md.
What does architect-review do?
It reviews code changes for architectural consistency, including patterns, SOLID principles, dependencies, and modularity. Its response includes an impact assessment, findings, and recommendations.
What does the architect-review report contain?
The report assesses architectural impact, checks pattern compliance, describes violations, and recommends changes. It also covers longer-term effects on maintainability and scaling.