Code reviews are essential for maintaining code quality, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that best practices are followed throughout the development process. However, conducting effective code reviews requires more than just looking for bugs or syntax errors. It involves assessing the code from various perspectives to ensure it meets both technical and non-technical criteria. This document outlines best practices for conducting code reviews from the perspective of the reviewer and the pull request creator.
For Reviewers 🔎
Be constructive: Provide feedback in a constructive and respectful manner. Focus on improving the code rather than criticizing the developer.
Understand the context: Take the time to understand the purpose and requirements of the code being reviewed. This will help you provide more relevant feedback.
Review the code, not the person: Remember that code reviews are about improving the code, not attacking the developer. Separate the code from the person who wrote it.
Be specific: Provide specific comments and suggestions. Avoid vague or general feedback that may confuse the developer.
Prioritize issues: Identify critical issues that need immediate attention and non-critical issues that can be addressed later. This will help the developer focus on the most important changes.
Offer alternatives: Instead of just pointing out problems, suggest alternative solutions or improvements. This will help the developer understand different approaches and learn from the review.
Consider the bigger picture: Think about the impact of the changes on the overall system. Consider scalability, maintainability, and performance aspects during the review.
Be mindful of deadlines: Review code promptly to avoid delaying the development process. If you need more time, communicate it to the pull request creator.
Avoid “Pull Request Friendship” : Do not approve a pull request just because the creator is a friend or because you have faith in their deliveries. Every pull request should be reviewed objectively, based on the quality of the code and its adherence to project standards and best practices. This ensures fairness and maintains the integrity of the codebase.
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For Pull Request Creators 💻
Prepare your code: Before submitting a pull request, make sure your code is clean, well-structured, and follows the project’s coding conventions. This will make the review process smoother.
Utilize repository features: Assign the pull request to yourself, use a clear and descriptive title, and apply labels for future filtering and searching. Maintaining an organized repository is straightforward and fosters a healthy codebase to work with.
Provide context: Include a clear description of the changes made and the problem being solved. This will help reviewers understand the purpose of the code.
Be open to feedback: Be receptive to feedback and willing to make changes. Remember that code reviews are an opportunity to improve the quality of your code.
Engage in discussions: Respond to comments and questions from reviewers. Engage in discussions to clarify any misunderstandings or address concerns.
Learn from the review: Use the feedback received during the code review to improve your coding skills. Take the opportunity to learn from more experienced developers.
Address all comments: Address all comments and suggestions made by the reviewers. If you disagree with a comment, provide a clear explanation and discuss it with the reviewer.
Test your changes: Before marking the pull request as ready for merge, ensure that your changes have been thoroughly tested and do not introduce any regressions.
Keep it concise and context-specific: Concentrate on delivering within the context and avoid modifying files outside the scope. Smaller pull requests are easier to review and reduce the overall time for pull request approval.
Express gratitude: Show appreciation to the reviewers for their time and effort in providing feedback. A simple thank you can go a long way in fostering a positive code review culture. ❤️
Remember, code reviews are a collaborative process aimed at improving the quality of the codebase. By following these best practices, both reviewers and pull request creators can contribute to creating better software.
