CodeRabbit Install & Auth

Overview

CodeRabbit is an AI-powered code review platform. It installs as a GitHub App (or GitLab integration) and automatically reviews pull requests. There is no SDK to install -- you configure it via a .coderabbit.yaml file and interact through PR comments. Optionally, install the CLI for local pre-commit reviews.

Prerequisites

• GitHub organization admin or GitLab group owner permissions
• A repository to enable CodeRabbit on
• (Optional) Shell access for CLI installation

Instructions

Step 1: Install the CodeRabbit GitHub App

1. Navigate to https://github.com/apps/coderabbitai
2. Click "Install" and select your organization
3. Choose repository access:
   - "All repositories" for org-wide coverage
   - "Only select repositories" for targeted setup
4. Authorize the requested permissions (read code, write PR comments)
5. You will be redirected to app.coderabbit.ai to complete onboarding

Step 2: Verify Installation

set -euo pipefail
# Confirm the GitHub App is installed on your repo
gh api repos/YOUR_ORG/YOUR_REPO/installation --jq '.app_slug'
# Expected output: coderabbitai

Step 3: Create Base Configuration

# .coderabbit.yaml (place in repository root)
language: "en-US"
reviews:
  profile: "assertive"          # Options: chill, assertive
  request_changes_workflow: false
  high_level_summary: true
  poem: false
  review_status: true
  collapse_walkthrough: false
  sequence_diagrams: true
  auto_review:
    enabled: true
    drafts: false
    base_branches:
      - main
      - develop
chat:
  auto_reply: true

Step 4: Install the CLI (Optional)

set -euo pipefail
# Install CodeRabbit CLI for local pre-commit reviews
curl -fsSL https://cli.coderabbit.ai/install.sh | sh

# Verify installation
cr --version

Step 5: Trigger Your First Review

set -euo pipefail
# Create a test branch and PR to verify CodeRabbit is active
git checkout -b test/coderabbit-verification
echo "// test change" >> src/index.ts
git add src/index.ts && git commit -m "test: verify coderabbit integration"
git push -u origin test/coderabbit-verification
gh pr create --title "test: verify CodeRabbit" --body "Testing CodeRabbit integration"

# CodeRabbit will post a review within 2-5 minutes
# Check the PR for the walkthrough comment and line-level feedback

GitLab Setup (Alternative)

1. Navigate to app.coderabbit.ai and sign in with GitLab
2. Select your GitLab group during onboarding
3. Provide a GitLab access token with api and read_repository scopes
4. CodeRabbit automatically configures the webhook:
   https://coderabbit.ai/gitlabHandler
5. Place .coderabbit.yaml in repository root (same format as GitHub)

Output

• CodeRabbit GitHub App installed on selected repositories
• .coderabbit.yaml configuration file in repository root
• (Optional) CLI installed for local reviews
• First automated review posted on a test PR

Error Handling

Issue	Cause	Solution
No review on PR	App not installed on repo	Add repo in GitHub App settings > Repository access
"Not accessible" error	Missing permissions	Reinstall GitHub App with correct org/repo selection
Review only on some PRs	PR author has no seat	Assign a seat at app.coderabbit.ai > Subscription
CLI install fails	Unsupported platform	Check system requirements at coderabbit.ai/cli
GitLab webhook missing	Token scope insufficient	Ensure token has api and read_repository scopes

Seat Management

CodeRabbit charges per seat (developer who creates PRs). To manage seats:

1. Go to app.coderabbit.ai > Organization > Subscription
2. Assign seats to specific developers, or set "Active committers" mode
3. Bot accounts (dependabot, renovate) should NOT consume seats
4. Only users who open PRs need seats; reviewers do not

Resources

• CodeRabbit Getting Started
• GitHub App Installation
• GitLab Integration
• CodeRabbit CLI
• Configuration Reference

Next Steps

Proceed to coderabbit-hello-world for your first customized review configuration.