Code Review Processes That Actually Improve Quality

When the goal is to build high-quality software, every step in the development process matters. Code review, in particular, is far more than a simple formality. At Novatics, we view it as a fundamental practice that elevates code quality, promotes knowledge sharing, and ultimately, drives project success.

A code review is a collaborative act. It’s a core part of the software development lifecycle that we encourage on every project, serving as a critical practice for anticipating bugs and enhancing code maintainability and readability.

The Asynchronous Code Review Advantage

While some teams opt for live code reviews, our standard approach at Novatics is asynchronous review based on Pull Requests (PRs). This methodology aligns perfectly with our nearshore model and remote culture, enabling our developers to work across different time zones efficiently. Asynchronous reviews allow for deep work and thoughtful feedback, ensuring that every comment is clear, well-considered, and adds value.

Best Practices for Reviewing Code

A great code review is a collaborative act. To get the most out of the process, we follow a set of best practices:

• Understand the Context: Before diving into the code, always understand the context of the task linked to the PR. This provides crucial perspective on the why behind the changes.

• Communicate with Clarity and Courtesy: Use clear, kind language in your comments. Instead of demanding changes, ask questions. For example, "What do you think about changing this function to return a boolean?" is more collaborative than a direct command.

• Provide Evidence and Examples: When possible, include code examples to illustrate suggested changes. If you identify an issue, provide evidence like a screenshot, GIF, or clear steps to reproduce it.

• Leverage Documentation: Include links to documentation to help the author understand your suggestions or identified problems.

• Test the Code: Don't just read the code; run it. Execute the code and test the part of the software that was changed or added to ensure it works as expected.

• Finalize the Review: Use the repository's feedback tools, like "approve" or "request changes," to finalize your review. "Request changes" should be used for problems that must be fixed, including those related to readability.

What to Look For During a Code Review

A successful code review goes beyond checking for simple bugs. It’s an opportunity to improve the overall health of the codebase. Focus on these key areas:

• Readability and Maintainability: If it’s difficult for you to understand, it will be even harder for someone else in a year or two.

• Alternative Flows: We often focus on the "happy path" when writing code. The reviewer can help identify alternative flows that were not considered.

• Core Principles: Check for violations of core principles like DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) and SOLID.

• Systemic Failures and Security: Look for potential systemic failures like race conditions, deadlocks, and Null Pointer Exceptions (NPEs). These kinds of bugs are often difficult to catch in the QA phase and can surface in production.

• Proactive Knowledge Sharing: This is the best way to distribute knowledge about the codebase across the team, reducing reliance on a few key individuals.

Receiving a Code Review

The process is a two-way street. Being a good reviewer is just as important as being a good reviewee.

• Prepare Your Pull Request: Create your PR, ensuring it includes a clear description and a link to the task (Jira, Trello, etc.).

• Be Proactive: Tag the people who need to review your code and notify them through other channels, like Slack. Make yourself available to answer any questions.

• Respond and Collaborate: Read the comments from reviewers and respond when necessary. If a discussion becomes too long or complex, move it to a call or chat to avoid a lengthy back-and-forth in the PR comments.

• Don’t Merge Prematurely: Only merge your code after the PR has been approved and all tests have passed.

Conclusion

At Novatics, our commitment to quality is reflected in our processes. Code review is a practice that embodies our values of trust, agility, and excellence. By fostering a culture of respectful code review, we ensure we are building smart, robust, and maintainable solutions that stand the test of time. If you're looking for a development partner that values a structured approach to quality and transparency, let's chat about your product vision!