River
Y CombinatorBacked by Y Combinator

TechnicalFree

Generate code comments

Paste a block of code and get back a commented copy that explains why it works this way, ready to paste into your editor.

Context to provide

River's Code Comment Generator adds clear, helpful comments to your code. You paste code, and the AI adds inline comments explaining what the code does, why it works that way, and any important considerations. Perfect for making code more maintainable and helping team members understand complex logic.

Unlike obvious comments, we explain the why, not just the what. The AI understands when comments add value, explains intent and reasoning, and avoids redundant statements. You get comments that make code clearer without cluttering it.

This tool is perfect for developers documenting complex code, teams improving code readability, code reviewers requesting better documentation, and maintainers making legacy code understandable.

What Makes Code Comments Effective

Good comments explain why code exists, not what it does. Code shows what. Comments explain intent, constraints, and reasoning. Avoid obvious comments like (increment counter). Write helpful comments like (skip deleted items to prevent permission errors). Best comments help future developers (including you) understand decisions and constraints.

How It Works

  1. Paste code

    Select code section needing comments

  2. AI adds comments

    Generates helpful inline comments

  3. Review and adjust

    Refine comments as needed

  4. Commit improved code

    Code is now more maintainable

What You Get

  • Clean inline comments
  • Explains intent and reasoning
  • Notes important considerations
  • Avoids obvious statements
  • Maintains code readability

Common questions

Should every line of code have a comment?

No. Over-commenting is as bad as under-commenting. Comment complex logic, non-obvious decisions, workarounds, and important constraints. Don't comment obvious code. If code needs comments to be understood, consider refactoring for clarity first.

What makes a good code comment?

Good comments explain why, not what. They document intent, constraints, and reasoning. They warn about gotchas. They reference tickets or requirements. Bad comments repeat what code clearly shows. Good comments add context code can't convey.

Should comments be updated when code changes?

Yes, always. Outdated comments are worse than no comments. They mislead developers and cause bugs. When changing code, update related comments. If comment becomes obviously wrong, delete it. Trust code over conflicting comments.

Generate code comments

Describe what you need, add any files you have, and your workspace opens with the work already underway.