The b4 tool used for managing patch workflows to the Linux kernel has been seeing a lot of work recently on b4 review as the text user interface (TUI) to help expedite the patch review process for the Linux kernel. The b4 review TUI has been integrating AI agent code review helpers powered by the likes of Claude Code too for trying to help enhance the efficiency for Linux kernel patch reviews. That b4 review work is quickly approaching a pre-alpha state.
The AI-assisted code review handling within b4 review has been progressing a lot in recent weeks. This effort was previously covered at the start of the month in Linux’s b4 Kernel Development Tool Now Dog-Feeding Its AI Agent Code Review Helper.
The b4 lead developer Konstantin Ryabitsev of the Linux Foundation has been leading the effort and today shared via Mastodon that it’s approaching a pre-alpha state.
For showing off the current state is this recording that from the TUI shows patchwork integration, reviewing patch series, accepting patch series, and more. Complete with Claude Code integration. The AI integration is strictly opt-in for those that want it.
The b4 review functionality is advancing rapidly and will be interesting to see how feature rich it becomes over the weeks or months ahead.
