Code review is a vital step in software development for companies of any size. During this practice, team members carefully examine code written by their peers to identify and fix errors, bugs, and issues, as well as to ensure that the code meets the quality standards and best practices set by the team.
Code reviews play a crucial role in ensuring software quality, encouraging knowledge sharing within the team, and promoting collaboration. They contribute to the early detection of errors, the improvement of developers’ skills and the consistency of code within a project.
During an interview with two developers from Uzinakod, we explored the nuances of code review, shedding light on the key elements to consider for a successful implementation of this practice.
How Does the Verification Process Work?
Viewed as a quality assurance checkpoint within the development cycle, the code review process, while not obligatory, is highly recommended and deemed essential for the seamless operation of procedures.
In the course of a development project, a code review occurs whenever modifications are applied to existing code or new requirements are implemented, often happening multiple times a day. Developers submit their code for peer review, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
For this, the developer initiates the process by sending a notification to the reviewers, signaling the change from the original code. Reviewers are then alerted through email, Slack, or Teams, aligning with the internal processes in place. Once approved, the code is merged into the main branch, establishing itself as the new foundation for work. Post-review stages differ across projects with some going straight to production, while others involve further quality control actions.
Uzinakod uses code review tools from all the development platforms commonly used on the market and our developers are constantly on the lookout for new tools that facilitate the integration of code review into their individual development environments.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of a code review relies on the human element and well-established procedures within a team. While Uzinakod strongly embraces automation, we consider it crucial to maintain a human-centered approach with a touch of automation in the case of operational processes.
The Importance of Collaboration between Authors and Reviewers
Code Creation or Modification
It is essential for the author to acknowledge the significance of adhering to the elements outlined below when creating or modifying code. This not only improves the quality of the end product but also streamlines subsequent actions, such as review and maintenance.
- Code Consistency: Each set of changes must remain consistent, and we recommend excluding alterations that are not directly related. This streamlines the review process, enabling the reviewer to focus on distinct adjustments, thus enhancing clarity and efficiency.
- Code Clarity: Clear code promotes rapid and accurate comprehension of how the application functions, meaning it should read like a story. Developers must ensure that their code is understandable not only to themselves but also to other team members, regardless of their level of experience.
- Importance of Documentation: Well-documented changes assist the reviewer in quickly and accurately comprehending their intent, facilitating prompt approval of the request. Additionally, in the event of a new team taking over the project, documentation enables them to understand the actions taken before their arrival.
- Adherence to Conventions: The developers must respect the syntax, code structuring, and documentation conventions. This contributes to the standardization of programming style and the improvement of code readability.
Code Revision
A thorough code review involves consideration of several key points during verification. By diligently examining these aspects, reviewers can uphold the quality and longevity of the code, thereby playing a pivotal role in the success of the software project.
At Uzinakod, our developers have identified four essential criteria for a successful code review:
- Assessing the Risk of Introducing Bugs: Reviewers must ensure that the changes implemented do not introduce errors that could jeopardize stability and reliability in other parts of the code.
- Assessing Security Risks: It is crucial to verify that the new code is free of potential vulnerabilities and aligns with good security practices to reinforce the application’s robustness. Equally important is ensuring restricted access to the new code, limiting it to authorized personnel to prevent data leaks to our customers.
- Understanding the Intent Behind the Code: Code authors should thoroughly document their changes, enabling reviewers to grasp the essence of their modifications. In cases of ambiguity or lack of clarity, confirming the intent with the author becomes essential to prevent errors that could undermine the purpose of the review. Developers can improve understanding by including descriptions, titles, images, or linking to tickets in their tracking system, providing additional context for the reviewer.
- Setting Aside Personal Opinions: Coding approaches can significantly differ among individuals. However, it is crucial to prioritize fundamental aspects such as smooth operation and security over personal coding preferences. This includes factors like individual choices in variable names, the order of operations, or other elements not bound by conventions.
The success of a code review depends on the joint effort of both parties involved. The clearer the intentions and the more documentation the developers provide, the smoother and more enjoyable the reviewer’s work will be. That’s why our developers recommend submitting small pull requests, to avoid having to go through hundreds of lines of code at once, making the work process faster and more efficient.
The Pros of Code Review Processes
Regardless of your chosen working methodology and in-house development preferences, incorporating a code review can be advantageous. At Uzinakod, where we adhere to an Agile approach, several significant benefits emerge as work is decentralized across all levels.
This approach ensures that the knowledge of the code base is not limited to a single team member, allowing multiple individuals to familiarize themselves with it and collaborate effectively. In essence, it facilitates the sharing of knowledge throughout the entire source code for all team members.
Here are just some of the benefits:
- Code Improvement: The primary objective of a code review is to enhance the readability and quality of the code. Through a fresh examination of the changes, we can guarantee that the code reaches its optimum quality.
- Bug Count Limitation: The reviewer, providing an external perspective, can pinpoint bugs or gaps in the understanding of requirements, consequently proposing additional unit tests to enhance code quality and minimize the occurrence of bugs.
- Team Collaboration: Code reviews promote team communication, encouraging the explanation of actions, methods, and justification of choices. This, in turn, nurtures collaboration among team members.
- Knowledge Exchange: Through code reviews that encourage collaboration among team members, there is a natural cultivation of learning and the exchange of knowledge. Given that developers may have varying levels of training and techniques, this process facilitates a valuable exchange of insights.
In summary, code review encourages the decentralized distribution of work, preventing any single member from monopolizing knowledge of the code base. This facilitates knowledge sharing within the team, offering several advantages that contribute to efficiency and quality in our development process.
The Uzinakod Difference
In conclusion, code review stands as an indispensable pillar in software development, playing a pivotal role in both large and small businesses. Uzinakod stands out for its commitment to rigorous code review practices, emphasizing solid guidelines, imposing strict restrictions, and employing an approach focused on clarity and consistency.
The versatility of our teams, often called upon to work with different customers, reinforces the adaptability of our developers. Internal processes are continually influenced by this variety of experience, with strict guidelines on approvals and simple rules for effective code review.
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