Code Reviews

Code reviews are a required part of the software development process, offering numerous benefits such as improved code quality, shared knowledge, and early bug detection. However, the effectiveness of these reviews largely depends on the approach and mindset of the participants.

Goals

Code review is a way to have a conversation about the code where participants will:

Improve code quality by identifying and removing defects before they can be introduced into shared code branches.
Learn and grow by having others review the code, we get exposed to unfamiliar design patterns or languages among other topics, and even break some bad habits.
Shared understanding between the developers over the project's code.

When do I conduct a code review?

Developers working on projects should conduct peer code reviews on every pull request (or check-in to a shared branch).

How do I make code reviews effective?

Take a quick peek at how to maximize the effectiveness of code reviews.

What are common issues code reviews catch?

Though not an exhaustive list, some of the most common issues that code reviews can help catch are described here.

Resources

Last update: January 20, 2024