After a software developer has completed coding, a code review is an important step in the software development process to get a second opinion on the solution and implementation before it’s merged into an upstream branch like a feature branch or the main branch. Code reviews are one of the most productive tasks we do each day. When done well, they ensure code quality, promote knowledge sharing, and strengthen the team. By reviewing code, developers can catch bugs, optimize performance, and ensure that the code adheres to established standards and best practices. Review of code is important because it provides the highest quality of code. In addition, peer reviews help to spot gaps in a developer’s training, and give them the opportunity to learn from their colleagues.
Establish Clear Guidelines and Standards
If your developers are co-located and they run into issues, they can just turn around to a colleague and ask for help. This includes establishing coding standards, documenting the review process, and outlining the criteria that the code should meet. All team members can share their knowledge without working at the same time. However, for remote teams is all a different story – and that’s a huge bonus to creativity. But creativity and consistency aren’t always the best bedfellows.
Make code Reviews a Regular Part of the Development Process
Creating a structured process for code review can help developers perform it in a timely manner as a regular part of the development lifecycle. You should review your code after each process or section is complete. As a result, the collective team’s improved coding skills is an intangible benefit of the code review process. An ambitious developer should seek to work with the best experts and foster his professional growth on a regular basis.
Involve Multiple Reviewers
Code reviews should involve multiple reviewers, not just one. This helps to ensure that the code is reviewed thoroughly and from different perspectives. It’s important that your team has a positive environment for constructive critique. Everyone needs to be open to having their work reviewed, and to deal positively with suggestions of change. A team that is thoughtful about the feedback it gives, and open to receiving it, is a team that will grow and learn, and that can only positively impact your end product.
Provide Constructive Feedback
Reviewers should provide constructive feedback that is specific, actionable, and focused on improving the code. This can include suggestions for alternative approaches, pointing out areas where the code is difficult to understand, or highlighting potential security risks. Not all discussion about a review should take place within the review platform itself. It is often much easier and quicker to discuss or guide face-to-face.
Use Code Review Tools
You can choose a code review tools that is compatible with your technology stack to seamlessly integrate it into your workflow. The main outcome of a code review process is to increase efficiency. A code review tool automates the process of code review so that a reviewer solely focuses on the code. Two types of code testing in software development: dynamic and static. Dynamic analysis involves checking if the code follows a set of rules and running unit tests, typically performed by a predefined script. Static code testing is done after a developer creates a new code to be merged into the current code.
Foster a Positive Feedback Culture
Effective communication is difficult to master. Giving feedback on a colleague’s work is challenging for most people, both intellectually and emotionally. Below is a list of suggestions for improving code review discussions:
- Always provide feedback on the code, not the author.
- Focus on the most important problems within the code, not all the problems.
- Admit that there are multiple correct solutions to every problem.
- Give objective reasons, not emotions, for a problem in the code.
- Always try to provide positive feedback. This can make it easier for the code author to accept negative feedback, and can be valuable in itself by reinforcing best practices.
In conclusion, code review improves communication within a team, simplifies bug identification, streamlines development, and helps companies to deliver their projects on time and within budget. All of the techniques listed above are beneficial and will result in better code than you would have otherwise. Find the best one for you. According to our experience as a software company our developers find the most potential coming from pair programming & tool-assisted reviews.
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