Code Review Best Practices

Why Code Reviews Matter

• Catch bugs before production
• Share knowledge across team
• Maintain code quality standards
• Prevent technical debt accumulation

Reviewer Responsibilities

Look For

• Correctness: Does the code work as intended?
• Style: Does it follow team conventions?
• Performance: Are there obvious inefficiencies?
• Testing: Are there adequate tests?
• Security: Any vulnerabilities?
• Documentation: Is it clear and documented?

Positive Review Tone

✓ Great use of error handling here!
✓ This optimization will help with X
✗ Why not use const instead of let?

Constructive Feedback

Ask questions instead of criticizing:

• "What if we...?"
• "Have you considered...?"
• "Could this be simpler?"

Author Responsibilities

Keep PRs Small

• Easier to review
• Faster feedback cycle
• Simpler to understand
• Easier to revert if needed

Good PR Description

## What
Brief description of changes

## Why
Context and motivation

## How
Technical approach

## Testing
How was this tested?

Respond to Feedback

• Thank reviewers for their time
• Explain your reasoning if needed
• Ask for clarification if unclear
• Iterate until satisfied

Review Process

1. Automated Checks First

   • Run tests automatically
   • Check linting and formatting
   • Verify security scanning

2. Code Review

   • At least one approval
   • Address all comments
   • Request re-review if major changes

3. Merge Criteria

   • Tests passing
   • Code reviews approved
   • No conflicts
   • Security checks passed

What Not to Review

• Prefer linter/formatter over manual style review
• Use automated tools for obvious issues
• Focus on complex logic and design

Best Practices

• Review promptly (within 24 hours)
• Be respectful and constructive
• Assume good intent
• Learn from reviews
• Share knowledge openly
• Celebrate good solutions
• Continuous improvement