The 10 Commandments of Code Review: A Developer's Guide

The algorithm washed in a great YouTube video on code reviews. Here’s a summary of the video’s key points, with a touch of humor and a sprinkle of wisdom.\

• Source on YouTube

A Note on Code Reviews

Let’s be honest: we’ve all written code that made us cringe months later. Whether you’re a junior developer or a seasoned architect, nobody writes perfect code all the time. That’s exactly why code reviews exist – not as a platform for showing off or criticizing others, but as a collaborative tool for improvement. When reviewing code, remember to be direct but polite; we’re all in this together, trying to build better software.

The 10 Commandments of Code Review

1. Thou shalt ensure readability, for confusing code is the Devil’s Playground.

2. Thou shalt consider performance and scalability, for slow code is an Abomination.

3. Thou shalt stay within scope, and not add unnecessary complexity.

4. Thou shalt check for edge cases, for the unexpected shall smite thee in production.

5. Thou shalt not forget test coverage, for untested code is a sin in the eyes of QA.

6. Thou shalt seek out repetitive code and banish it from the codebase.

7. Thou shalt not nitpick, lest you be smited by thine own pet peeves.

8. Thou shalt provide constructive feedback and sing praises of good code.

9. Thou shalt encourage discussion, for two minds are mightier than one.

10. Thou shalt not block changes over minor issues, for Perfection is a false idol.

1. Ensure Readability

Code should be easily understood by others. Look for clear naming conventions, appropriate comments, and well-structured functions. If you need to read the same code multiple times to understand it, suggest improvements in organization or clarity.

2. Consider Performance

Watch for potential bottlenecks and inefficient code. Look for opportunities to optimize, such as early returns and proper algorithmic complexity. Remember: what works on your computer might not scale well on servers.

3. Stay Within Scope

Understand the problem being solved and avoid suggesting changes that don’t align with the ticket’s purpose. Save broader improvements for separate tickets and discussions.

4. Check Edge Cases

Review how the code handles unexpected scenarios, including empty arrays, null values, and missing data. Border cases often cause the most problems in production.

5. Verify Test Coverage

Ensure adequate testing, especially for critical functionality. Tests should be comprehensive, well-structured, and actually useful – not redundant. Don’t demand tests for trivial changes.

6. Eliminate Code Duplication

Look for repeated code blocks and suggest abstractions to improve maintainability. If the same intensive operation happens multiple times, consider caching results when appropriate.

7. Avoid Nitpicking

Don’t get hung up on trivial formatting preferences or subjective matters. You’re not a linter – focus on what truly matters.

8. Provide Constructive Feedback

Frame suggestions positively and acknowledge good work. Instead of “this is poorly written,” try “consider refactoring this for clarity 😊”

9. Encourage Discussion

Foster collaboration and open dialogue. For complex issues, take the discussion offline to voice or chat channels where ideas can flow more naturally.

10. Don’t Block on Minor Issues

Differentiate between essential fixes and nice-to-haves. Not every suggestion needs to be implemented before merging.

Remember: Perfect is the enemy of good. Sometimes “good enough” is exactly what the project needs at that moment.