Like many developers, I've spent countless hours wrestling with code reviews. I've tried a variety of AI tools, all promising to streamline the process. While they were a step up from manual reviews, they all came with the same frustrating overhead: a complicated setup, managing API tokens, and constantly jumping between dashboards.
I found myself thinking: "Why isn't there a simple solution that just works?"
So, I decided to build one myself.
My goal was to create a tool that solved my personal pain points as a developer using GitLab. The result is a Chrome extension called ThinkReview. It's not a complex, multi-platform solution or a complex enterprise tool. It’s a simple, elegant solution for a very specific problem: getting instant, high-quality AI code reviews on GitLab Merge Requests.
Here's why I built it the way I did, and why I believe it's a game-changer for anyone who shares my frustrations:
1. No Setup Required
This was my number one priority. I was tired of generating tokens, configuring webhooks, and linking accounts. I wanted a tool that worked right out of the box. With ThinkReview, you install the extension, open a GitLab MR, and it automatically provides a review. There’s no setup, no configuration, and zero friction.
2. A Truly Free Tier
I believe that basic, helpful AI should be accessible to everyone. That's why I've made ThinkReview with a very generous Free tier. I It's still free tool that provides immense value to freelancers, students, and small teams who need powerful feedback without a financial commitment.
3. It Stays in Your Workflow
I didn't want a separate dashboard or a third-party app. Context-switching is a productivity killer. ThinkReview’s AI review is delivered directly within the GitLab UI, so you can read the summary, ask questions, and accept suggestions without ever leaving the platform. It's a seamless part of your existing workflow.
If you’re a GitLab user who's been looking for an AI code review tool that's simple, free, and incredibly effective, I invite you to try the solution I built to solve my own problem.
It’s been a massive help in my own work, and I hope it can help you too.
You can install the extension from the Chrome Web Store: ThinkReview: AI Code Reviews for GitLab Merge Requests
Top comments (1)
As the creator of ThinkReview, I wanted to share a major update as We 've just rolled out some powerful new features that build on the ideas you've discussed here:
AI Suggested Comments & Smart Questions: We've launched a new feature that generates professional code review comments and suggests insightful questions to help developers understand merge requests faster and more deeply.
Speak Your Language 🌍: You can now set a persistent language in the extension's settings. Once set, all AI feedback and follow-up questions will be in your chosen language automatically. No more typing "Czy możesz odpowiedzieć po polsku?"!
Now on Microsoft Edge! We're excited to announce that ThinkReview is officially available for Microsoft Edge, in addition to all other Chromium browsers (like Opera, Brave, and the new Perplexity Comet).
Faster & Smarter AI: The underlying model has been significantly upgraded for faster, more intelligent responses.
We're working hard to make the code review process faster and more insightful for everyone. We'd love for you and the community here to check out the new version and share any feedback!
You can find the extension on the Chrome Web Store and see the full details in our release notes.