Original Project: Review Gate by Lakshman Turlapati
Original Author: Lakshman Turlapati
Original Platform: macOS (Fully tested and working flawlessly ✅)
Windows Enhancement: CryptoRadi/Review-Gate-V2-Windows
This repository contains a Windows-focused enhancement of the original Review Gate V2 project. While Lakshman's original implementation works perfectly on macOS, we identified several Windows-specific challenges that required significant refactoring:
- ✅ Fixed Batch Script Execution: Resolved Unicode encoding crashes and syntax errors
- ✅ Enhanced VSIX Installation: Proper PowerShell-based extension extraction and installation
- ✅ Improved MCP Configuration: Robust Python script generation for Windows paths
- ✅ Extension Reload Handling: Clear guidance for normal VS Code/Cursor extension reload behavior
- ✅ Manual Rule Management: Switched to manual global rule installation for better reliability
- ✅ Comprehensive Error Handling: Better error messages and fallback methods for Windows
The original Review Gate V2 is an excellent project that works flawlessly on macOS. However, Windows users encountered various installation and compatibility issues that required platform-specific solutions. Rather than burden the original project with Windows-specific complexity, this fork focuses exclusively on providing a rock-solid Windows experience.
- Core Concept: 100% credit to Lakshman Turlapati's brilliant Review Gate V2 design
- MCP Server: Based on the original architecture with Windows compatibility fixes
- Extension: Enhanced version of the original popup interface
- Global Rule: Same powerful rule system with improved Windows installation process
Maximize Your Cursor Pro Requests: Instead of burning through your ~500 monthly requests with multiple separate prompts, Review Gate V2 keeps the AI engaged in a single request session until YOU decide it's complete.
The Problem: Cursor AI often finishes tasks too quickly, using only a few of its ~25 available tool calls per request, leaving work incomplete or requiring new requests for follow-ups.
The Solution: An interactive popup system that:
- Extends Single Requests: Turn 1 request into 5+ iterations of refinement
- Voice & Visual Input: Speak commands or upload images for context
- Complete Tool Usage: Helps AI use its full tool call budget on complex tasks
- Windows-Optimized: Rock-solid installation and compatibility
- 🎤 Voice Commands: Speak naturally, automatic local transcription
- 📷 Image Context: Upload screenshots, mockups, diagrams
- 🔄 Interactive Loop: AI waits for your approval before finishing
- 💰 Request Efficiency: Maximize value from each Cursor Pro request
- 🛠️ Full Tool Usage: Encourages AI to use more of its ~25 tool calls per request
See it in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZmNM-AIf4M
- Give Cursor a task (counts as 1 request toward your ~500 limit)
- AI completes initial work using some of its tool call budget
- Review Gate popup appears automatically via MCP integration
- You provide feedback through text, voice, or images
- AI continues working using remaining tool calls from the same request
- Loop continues until you type
TASK_COMPLETE
Result: One request does the work of many, maximizing your Cursor Pro subscription value.
Two simple steps to supercharge your Cursor workflow:
# Clone this Windows-enhanced repository
git clone https://github.com/CryptoRadi/Review-Gate-V2-Windows.git
cd Review-Gate-V2-Windows/V2
# Run the one-click installer
install.batThe installer automatically handles:
- ✅ Dependencies: Chocolatey package manager, SoX (for speech), Python packages
- ✅ MCP Server: Global installation in
%USERPROFILE%\cursor-extensions\review-gate-v2\ - ✅ Extension: Cursor extension for the popup interface (may show reload popup - this is normal)
- ✅ Configuration: MCP integration setup with safe merging of existing configurations
Note: The global rule installation is now manual for better reliability and user control.
CRITICAL STEP: For the Review Gate V2 to work, you MUST add the V2 rule to your Cursor settings:
- Open the Rule File: Copy ALL contents of
ReviewGateV2.mdcfrom this folder - Cursor Settings: Open your Cursor IDE → Settings (Ctrl + ,)
- Find Rules Section: Look for "Rules" or "AI Rules" in the settings
- Paste & Save: Paste the ENTIRE V2 rule content and save
- Restart Cursor: Restart Cursor completely for the rule to take effect
Why this step? The rule tells Cursor when and how to activate the Review Gate V2 popup. Without it, you'll have a working MCP server but no automatic activation!
Important Note: This step is now MANUAL by design. Previous versions attempted automatic rule installation, but Cursor's internal rule management is more reliable when done through the Settings UI.
After both steps are complete:
- Restart Cursor: Completely close and restart Cursor IDE
- Handle Extension Popup: If you see "Extensions have been modified on disk" popup, click "Reload Window" (this is normal behavior)
- Manual Popup Test: Press
Ctrl+Shift+Rin Cursor to open the popup manually - Agent Integration Test: Ask Cursor: "Use the review_gate_chat tool to get my feedback"
- Speech Test: Click the microphone → speak clearly → verify automatic transcription
- Image Test: Click the camera icon → upload an image → send with text
- Full Workflow Test: Give Cursor a complex task and watch the Review Gate V2 popup appear automatically
Note: The "Extensions have been modified on disk" popup is normal when extensions are installed/updated externally. Simply click "Reload Window" to continue.
- Why this Windows enhancement: To provide rock-solid Windows compatibility for Lakshman's brilliant Review Gate V2 concept
- Voice Commands Work Best When: You speak clearly and concisely. The local Whisper AI is quite good but prefers natural, well-paced speech.
- Image Context is Gold: Upload screenshots of errors, mockups of what you want built, or diagrams of architecture. The AI can see and understand visual context.
- Windows Compatibility: Extensively tested on Windows 10/11 with robust error handling and fallback methods
- Be Clear in All Inputs: Whether typing, speaking, or sharing images, clear and direct communication in the popup works best.
TASK_COMPLETEis Your Exit: Don't forget to type this in the popup to let the AI finally rest (and free up that main request slot).
- WINDOWS-FOCUSED ENHANCEMENT! This is a Windows-optimized version of Lakshman's original V2 design.
- MCP SERVER RUNS LOCALLY: The rule uses a local MCP server that integrates with Cursor. The installer sets this up automatically.
- SPEECH PROCESSING IS LOCAL: Your voice is processed locally using Faster-Whisper AI - nothing goes to the cloud.
- PLATFORM COMPATIBILITY:
- Windows: Fully tested and working reliably ✅ (Extensive Windows-specific improvements)
- macOS: Use Lakshman's original repository - it works flawlessly ✅
- Linux: Should work but not tested
- PYTHON & SOX NEEDED: The installer handles these, but your system needs to support Python 3 and SoX for speech functionality.
- EXTENSION RELOAD POPUP: You may see "Extensions have been modified on disk" when installing - this is normal VS Code/Cursor behavior. Just click "Reload Window".
- MANUAL RULE SETUP: The global rule must be manually copied to Cursor settings for best reliability. Automatic rule installation has been removed by design.
- CURSOR UPDATES MIGHT CHANGE THINGS: Future Cursor versions could affect how this rule behaves. What works today might need tweaks tomorrow!
- REMEMBER THE RULE: The MCP server is just the engine - you MUST copy the V2 rule to your Cursor settings for automatic activation!
- Click microphone → speak naturally → automatic transcription
- Local Faster-Whisper AI processing (no cloud, no privacy concerns)
- Professional visual feedback: mic → red stop button → orange spinner → text injection
- Support for PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF, BMP, WebP formats
- Drag & drop or click to upload
- Images included in MCP responses so the AI can see your visual context
- Perfect for sharing screenshots, mockups, error dialogs, or architectural diagrams
- Clean popup with orange glow design that matches Cursor's aesthetic
- Horizontally aligned controls for professional appearance
- Real-time MCP status indicator
- Smooth animations and responsive feedback
- Works automatically with Cursor Agent tool calls
- 5-minute timeout for thoughtful responses
- Global installation works across all your Cursor projects
- File-based communication protocol for reliability
To completely remove Review Gate V2 from your system:
# Navigate to the V2 directory
cd Review-Gate-V2-Windows/V2
# Run the uninstaller
uninstall.batThe uninstaller automatically removes:
- ✅ MCP Server: Removes installation directory and MCP configuration
- ✅ Extension Files: Cleans up extension directories
- ✅ Temporary Files: Removes all temporary and log files
- Extension Removal: Open Cursor → Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X) → Find "Review Gate V2" → Click "Uninstall"
- Rule Removal: Open Cursor → Settings (Ctrl + ,) → Find "Rules" section → Remove the V2 rule content you pasted
- Restart Cursor: Completely restart Cursor to apply all changes
Why manual steps? Extension and rule management through Cursor's UI is more reliable than automated removal and ensures clean uninstallation.
# Check if MCP server is running
type %TEMP%\review_gate_v2.log
# Test speech recording capability
sox --version
sox -d -r 16000 -c 1 test.wav trim 0 3 && del test.wav
# Check extension logs in Cursor
# Press F12 → Console tab for browser logs
# Verify MCP configuration
type %USERPROFILE%\.cursor\mcp.json
# Test the extension manually
# Press Ctrl+Shift+R in CursorV2/
├── cursor-extension/ # Cursor extension source
│ ├── extension.js # Main extension file
│ ├── package.json # Extension manifest
│ └── review-gate-v2-2.5.2.vsix # Built extension package
├── review_gate_v2_mcp.py # MCP server
├── requirements_simple.txt # Python dependencies
├── ReviewGateV2.mdc # Global rule file (COPY THIS TO CURSOR!)
├── install.bat # ⭐ One-click installer (Windows) - START HERE
├── uninstall.bat # ⭐ Clean uninstaller (Windows) - REMOVE HERE
├── TROUBLESHOOTING.md # Troubleshooting guide
└── README.md # V2-specific documentation
Quick Start: Run install.bat → Copy rule to Cursor settings → Restart Cursor → You're ready!
After Lakshman's original Review Gate gained 100+ forks, 900+ stars, 100,000+ impressions, the Windows community needed a version that "just works" on Windows. While the original works flawlessly on macOS, Windows users encountered various compatibility challenges that required platform-specific solutions.
This Windows-enhanced version maintains 100% compatibility with Lakshman's brilliant design while providing:
- Rock-solid Windows installation
- Comprehensive error handling
- Better user guidance
- Robust fallback methods
Original Concept & Design: Lakshman Turlapati - The brilliant mind behind Review Gate V2
Windows Enhancement: This repository focuses on Windows compatibility and user experience improvements
The core Review Gate V2 concept, MCP integration, and popup interface design are 100% credited to Lakshman Turlapati's original work. This Windows enhancement simply ensures that Windows users can enjoy the same seamless experience that macOS users have with the original implementation.
For macOS users: Please use Lakshman's original repository - it's perfectly optimized for your platform!
Happy (and supercharged) Windows coding with Cursor V2! May your AI always await your final command, your voice be clearly transcribed, your images perfectly understood, and your monthly requests feel like they last forever! ✨🎤📷