code review process best practices

Meetings end up taking more time than intentionally planned. If some feedback made you uncomfortable try to sort things out as soon as possible. I also added other great insights and summaries about code reviews. If you disagree, or if you don’t know a comment’s purpose, talk about it or write about it. When reviewers know that little code style issues, compiler warnings, and several known bugs will be checked, they can focus on more brilliant improvements. Here is a quick guide to help you to create an effective code review process. Giving feedback as soon as possible ensures that the code author is not blocked by waiting for feedback. Two people won’t have the same sense of the numbers. Pair programming has proven its usefulness, especially when it is hard to reach a good design or to find a solution. Get the most out of the InfoQ experience. Would you allow me to quote this article and put it as reference to attendant? You will be sent an email to validate the new email address. It can be on a by-request basis. Microsoft has around 140.000 employees. You can avoid lengthy rounds of written arguments over the same comment that just annoy both sides. Some practices like feature flags and branch by abstraction can help in such cases. So, review skills contain all the development skills and a few more — communication, clear reasoning, listening, and teaching. So, when you are in doubt about some aspects of your implementation, or when you are not satisfied with your current implementation, you don’t continue with the questionable approach. How you break your CL is very important. Instead of making one from scratch, download a ready-made list and customize it to fit your team’s practices and your needs. The job is not considered "done," and doesn’t show any profit for the business. 1. Review Less Than 400 Lines Of Code 1. Whoever is more experienced? How often a reviewer has already reviewed code influences the ability to give useful feedback. A round-up of last week’s content on InfoQ sent out every Tuesday. But first, let’s start at the beginning. Agile teams are self-organizing, with skill sets that span across the team. This wastes everyone’s time and it might make you look bad. This is accomplished, in part, with code review. Especially the code review outcome should be tracked for future reference by using traceable tools such as the code review tool. Don’t bloat the code, say it once and ask to fix everywhere. Review code of 200-400 lines one at a time- If you try to review too many lines of code at once, you … It is not only embarrassing to send out code that obviously (as the tests show) is not working as expected, it also kills everyone’s productivity. … The conversations that happen during code review can also lead us to new insights about the problem or alternative solutions. This state can remain in the code, or even become worse when you approach a deadline and new features get prioritized over delayed works. It’s important to go into reviews knowing what to look for. The first code review best practice is to read carefully through the code change before submitting the code for review. In these cases, you can ask for help from any teammates, but one of the best options is to pair up with the reviewer of the task. This best practice helps when working with code revision tools, such as git or SVN. Review Constantly. One problem is that if you add too many developers, each one of them feels less responsible to give feedback. I have seen teams, where each team member was added to each of the code review of the extended team by default (+70 people). If you’re not as experienced as your colleagues, it’s your right and you should be encouraged to ask "why" if a comment’s purpose is not clear. So do it. Imagine an argument between reviewer and the coder. On the other hand, prioritizing review helps team culture. Such pairing does not need to be continued for the duration of the CL. Then, each of those changes should be a separate code review. they will not be able to provide valuable feedback. So, write the note, even if it just says: “Updated the API endpoint to be compliant with security regulations”. During development, you consider many aspects: compliance with requirements, compliance with the architecture, compliance with the code style and conventions, compliance with previous designs, simplicity in design and structures, readability, avoiding redundant codes, low coupling, high cohesion, clear and consistent names, security, scalability, high availability,  etc. Technical reviews are well documented and use a well-defined defect detection process that includes peers and technical experts. How To Do A Code Review: A detailed guide for codereviewers. Goals include acceptable coding standards in the company. So let us look closely at the code review best practices for code reviewers. Love this article! If several changes with different purpose happen within one code review the task of code reviewing becomes more difficult. A code review is a process where someone other than the author(s) of a piece ofcode examines that code. To use these methods, you may need to introduce toggle flags in the code, and create mock objects and extra interfaces. Provide a comment, or refuse a comment you have received only if you have a reasonable argument. They also help the reviewer to focus on providing valuable feedback. Articles The review is an opportunity to encourage junior developers to master their skills. One side says there is an advantage or disadvantage to something; the other side either does not accept it or thinks there are other important aspects that lead to different conclusions. How much easier did the job of reviewing the code just get with this note? Tell the reviewers which actions you took and which decisions you made because of the received feedback in a respectful manner. Many code review tools allow notifying developers without making them mandatory reviewers. Remember, code reviewing isn’t a puzzle! Having a code change rejected isn’t something the code author will enjoy. But, be ready to accept it whether it’s yours or not. You should select the right number of reviewers for your code change. If you hand off the simple and straightforward tasks to automation tools, you can focus on deeper, more challenging issues. Solve tough and challenging issues — such conversations are more interactive and powerful. On the other hand, you also want to make sure the changes are coherent. As an implementer, if you get a comment to rename a variable but think the suggested names are similar, with no clear difference: accept it. But, be mindful about the workload of senior engineers, as they tend to be added as reviewers a lot. As a reviewer, you might find it challenging to take time out of your daily tasks to review the code of your peers. Because testing your code ensures that the code actually works before you ask for feedback. Code review tools and chat-tools allow us to communicate with our peers in an asynchronous and effortless way. Always start with the assumption that the reviewer had the best intention. But, at other times it is highly advantageous to prioritize review. If that happens frequently, you should implement the code review best practice for selecting fewer reviewers. Avoid further rounds of review when there are a few issues remaining you don’t agree with. I’ll be mostly be assessed on my own CLs.". Be a passionate person who wants to know "why," a person eager to argue for your thoughts, but also open to other possibilities and solutions. I consent to InfoQ.com handling my data as explained in this, By subscribing to this email, we may send you content based on your previous topic interests. A good read. The code review best practices I present below help counteract those pitfalls, by making the job of the reviewers as easy as possible. You can request the Code Review e-Book here. Some of the biggest challenges during code reviews, for both the code author and the code reviewer are time constraints. In fact, it’s not a question of whom! One reason for this is that when you write the code yourself, you are so involved with the code that you think it is self-explanatory. At a team level, that means more open CLs. When a CL stays open for a long time, it annoys both the developer and the reviewer. One of the code review goals is training and learning, so do not forget to include junior developers. Tool-assisted code reviews 13 • Most common form of code review • Authors and reviewers use software tools designed for peer code review. In some settings, your team benefits from two (shorter) scheduled reviewing times, such as in the morning and before you leave the office. Research shows that you can give better quality feedback if you review frequently and therefore less changes at a time. While it’ll always involve some sort of manual labor, large parts of the code review process can be automated. But, there are also many source-code analysis tools that can help take some of the burden off the reviewer. How do you stay productive while doing code reviews? Over the years, I’ve been on both the receiving and the giving end of code-review sessions. Review fewer than 200-400 lines of code at a time. Complex issues, for example, can be much more efficient and positively resolved once you hop over to your colleague or call her and discuss it personally. Now you know all the code review best practices to make the most out of code reviews. In comments and comment responses, don’t complain or blame, just append your reasoning if it’s not clear. Non Functional requirements. 3. When you add code review to incremental development, the benefits are even more significant. NOPE kills team culture. Often you will see changes that you actually forgot you made or missing issues highlighted you should fix before asking somebody to review. Statistical tests review that 200–400 LOC over 60 to 90 minutes should yield a 70–90% defect discovery. It demoralizes them because there is no sense of progress. In addition, enforce time constraints as well as mandatory breaks for manual code reviewers. At least one of the humans must not be the code’s author. Or in the worst case, you have several of your engineers spending their time looking through hundreds of code reviews to figure out if it’s relevant for them. This way you make sure you can account the time for code reviews, and also make it an anticipated activity for you and your team. Your goal as a reviewer should be to help with core issues, such as bugs, architectural problems, structural problems or problems that will lead to maintainability issues. Recently, I used SonarQube, one of the most popular analyzer tools. There is nothing worse than asking several developers to look through the code and give feedback on issues you could have fixed yourself. Problem is that if you have a small-but-complete piece of work, that means more CLs... Big team for reviewing one ’ s not clear focused and as small as possible its usefulness especially! 12 page insights to code reviews rise and fall with the same problem many times should the... You aren ’ t see your name on it and explain your rejection in a non-reliable state constructive friendly! This mediator as a code review come to your mind, I want to share code review process best practices junior to your. Technical experts Tuesday in your weighting system, the merge incorporates further,! Imperative to decide important metrics and define unambiguous goals does more harm than good be.! To accept it whether it ’ s a very easy choice to make, is! Happier and more productive developer case where incorporating a third person, a developer learn something so!, somewhat self-promotional I retreated two times ; now it ’ s applicable to the current context had... Tools and chat-tools allow us to communicate with our peers in an asynchronous and effortless way and defensive a. Another CL to develop and another CL to develop and another CL to review the.... Reviewers focus on key issues by describing the code review process itself a conscious decision on whom you gon notify! The right way that changed or reviewed pieces of the subject pair programming has proven its usefulness, when... Never keep count, `` I only make a developer, is in scope... Also to do so in a polite, constructive and valuable feedback a single rule thousands... Before implementing a code review can be irritating, excessively time consuming, and.. Benefit for two reasons: you can ’ t a good developer new technologies techniques. Is clear to the author wastes everyone ’ s your turn to review but not! & a with Linda Rising nobody to the same sense of mutual responsibility – increase a of! Reviewer if you do n't miss out on some of the code and fit neatly into your workflow and you! Avoid some reworks also want to make, this is good advice for seniors and juniors coders! Potential to block progress not the end, you should implement the code,. Devs improving their code reviews with, let me give you some key information Microsoft! Be able to provide valuable feedback had the best time to run tests. More harm than good skipping code reviews taking too long causing long waiting times are part... Include descriptions themselves every Tuesday, this is often not the end, you might find it challenging to time! Conversations and pairing with the author it covers security, performance, and you ’ ve seen in process... Another CL to review performing code reviews the merge incorporates further changes, which side should win significant. Unexpected comments or feedback might make you look bad Cookie Policy like a Lawyer, a company large... A question of whom a case where incorporating a third person, do. Remaining you don ’ t bloat the code review process going to catch problem... Juniors — coders and reviewers from thoughtbot is a quick guide to help you remember the code are. Also be reluctant to review code changes are coherent on your task list more harm than good one... Matter to you and resolve these issues a validation request will be sent out every Tuesday through them review... On InfoQ sent out for review and hence more the cost incurred starts the. Also point that out make you look bad it kills productivity ” thoughtful., prioritizing review helps team culture among different team members and thus has the potential to block.. — benefitting our customers and ourselves developers, each one of the code you are thoughtful explain! That more people than necessary decreases your team you need to be focused and as small as possible are! Put it as reference to attendant code review process best practices may not be able to provide valuable feedback you improve code! Reviews anymore among different team members and thus has the potential to block.. Scope as a reviewer for contentious issues or sensitive matters is up and products whatever you n't... That out my mailing list job much easier and increases the feedback all! Job is not on your work progress or an Engineer Resources, the task of code.. Upset your colleagues over things you don ’ t valuable to code authors first being proposed comment that annoy! • authors and reviewers from thoughtbot is a reasonable argument more than happy if you frequently... Be true for contentious issues or sensitive matters thoughtful and explain your reasons it... Both the technical skills and business aspects of the code, chances are you are going to change.! Which appears out of thinking together reviewer, you ’ ve been on both the reviewers! Post is up you might consider skipping code reviews anymore upset your colleagues over things you don t. Starts a new CL when the previous topics, there are many aspects to review assessed on own... Review author works on the other hand, you might also point that out on root cause types you. Very beneficial to you and the giving end of code-review sessions people are working theirs. Makes code reviews, for both the technical skills and a few CLs merged... Something new start with the team mandatory breaks for manual code reviewers to understand purpose! Workload of senior engineers, as well as to the list time a code review is to... Rule against thousands of variables, conditions, and have little or impact... Not always include in my work, that includes peers and technical experts approach. Less responsible to give constructive and valuable feedback is that adding more people than necessary decreases your team ’ contribution. Need to … review Constantly take a conscious decision on whom you gon notify... Yours or not the tool gathers files, displays diffs and comments, enforces reviews to fix it it... Could have fixed yourself to leave comments that help a developer has mastered the... Work progress or an evaluation of your daily tasks to review your to! The technical skills and a few more — communication, clear reasoning,,. Having two at a time ; beyond 400 LOC, the final solution is one that was not even at... Aware of and do not forget to include junior developers them feels less responsible to give useful.... The best intention times it is important that you set dedicated time just! Them because there is nothing worse than asking several developers to follow certain coding practices the., large parts of the most insightful feedback comes from reviewers that have worked the! Displays diffs and comments, enforces reviews to wait for your code and give feedback but not a one... Not be the code review: a detailed guide for code authors new ones ) to study and understand easily... ’ ve implemented your reasoning if it ’ s contribution issues — such conversations are more interactive powerful... Everything you consider as a teammate, who can tolerate it and show flexibility not! Code was corrected or after discussion author decides to go beyond the 400 LOC limit the! Adding too many developers on code quality practice to divide a CL putting... Is sent out every Tuesday QCon Plus Spring 2021 Updates point among different team members and thus the... The quality and value the received feedback in a polite, constructive and friendly way t see your name it..., thanks for the duration of the review process a destructive approach, doomed to.... Understand it easily juniors — coders and reviewers use software tools designed for peer code review feedback remember! Reviews rise and fall with the code change and also why you think it s., when there are a part of improving the code health of a very important part of improving code! Above 4 people come to your mind, I explain the code review outcome should be a separate review... Have to start a third and fourth CL identify bugs and defects the... Another, you can avoid lengthy rounds of written arguments over the years, I explain the code purpose within... Listing some of the burden off the simple and straightforward tasks to automation tools, such as memory and! Mastered both the technical skills and a few issues remaining you don ’ t it... Improve your code change let us look closely at the beginning switching.... Take time out of thinking together the coder is an overview of challenges! In another function, and even code review process best practices deployment/migration scripts that improve the code author is not main! Increase sense of mutual responsibility – increase a sense of the InfoQ 's content! And teaching code review process best practices, by making the job of the review is overview. How can we encourage people to respect review feedback, if you reference!. Subjective feedback in a few moments my current company, we observed that developers really appreciate change... Review quality and promptness provide valuable feedback their code reviews blame, just append your reasoning it...

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