#189 - The Art of Awesome Code Reviews - Michaela Greiler
Sep 2, 2024
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Dr. Michaela Greiler, a code review advocate, shares her expertise in making code reviews more effective and enjoyable. She discusses the challenges teams face and emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that combines technical skills with social dynamics. Michaela highlights the importance of psychological safety and a positive feedback culture in enhancing developer experience. She also provides practical tips, including the use of checklists and customizing review processes to improve team collaboration and productivity.
The effectiveness of code reviews is often compromised by the impersonal nature of feedback, highlighting the need for human connection in the process.
A lack of formal training in code reviews leaves developers ill-equipped, underscoring the importance of empowering teams with the skills to provide meaningful critiques.
Balancing review speed with feedback value is crucial, as misjudged prioritization can lead to superficial assessments or unnecessarily prolonged processes.
Deep dives
The Challenges of Code Reviews
Code reviews are often hindered by the solo nature of feedback, where developers feel disconnected from their peers while reviewing code. This isolation can lead to a lack of understanding that they are engaging with a fellow team member rather than just an anonymous codebase. Consequently, many teams face problems with the effectiveness and efficiency of these reviews, often resulting in superficial checks rather than meaningful feedback. Understanding this dynamic is essential for fostering an environment where code reviews improve team collaboration and productivity.
The Importance of Training in Code Reviews
There is a noticeable absence of formal training around effective code reviews, which can leave developers unprepared for the complexity of reviewing others' code. This gap means that even seasoned developers may approach reviews with a merely observational strategy, leading to missed opportunities for constructive critique. The lack of systematic training can perpetuate a cycle where code reviews become a perfunctory task devoid of real value, draining team morale and effectiveness. Proper training could empower teams to approach code reviews as an opportunity for growth and improvement rather than a chore.
Analyzing Speed and Value in Code Reviews
Effective code reviews require a balance between speed and value, which can often be misjudged by teams trying to optimize their processes. Many teams rush through reviews, resulting in a facade of thoroughness while neglecting significant insights. Conversely, some teams may take excessive time with minimal output, leading to frustration and disengagement among members. By categorizing reviews into a framework that assesses both speed and value, teams can identify and address inefficiencies, improving the overall contribution of code reviews to their work.
The Role of Psychological Safety in Code Reviews
Psychological safety is a critical factor that influences the effectiveness of code reviews, directly affecting how feedback is provided and received. A culture that encourages open communication and constructive criticism can lead to meaningful dialogues during reviews, ultimately improving the developer experience. In contrast, teams lacking this safety may encounter harsh feedback, leading to diminished morale and potential turnover. Encouraging a supportive environment can transform code reviews into invaluable learning opportunities, fostering better team dynamics.
Utilizing Checklists for Consistent Reviews
Implementing checklists during code reviews can drastically improve consistency and thoroughness, guiding reviewers through essential aspects of the code. This structured approach helps prevent common oversights and facilitates a more comprehensive evaluation of the codebase. Checklists can be tailored to suit team needs, integrating criteria that focus on security, performance, and best practices. By using checklists, teams can foster a culture of high-quality reviews that not only surface issues but also promote continuous learning and improvement.
“A lot of problems that we are facing in code review are due to the interface. We are not actually giving feedback to a person, but we are just filling in text boxes and looking at code."
Dr. Michaela Greiler is a code review advocate and runs the “Awesome Code Reviews” workshops. In this episode, we discuss the importance of making code reviews awesome. We discuss the common challenges of code reviews, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that considers both the technical and social aspects. Michaela also shares insights on how to assess and improve code review practices within teams, highlighting the code review quadrant of review speed and feedback value.
Our discussion further explores the correlation between code reviews and developer experience, emphasizing the role of psychological safety and a positive feedback culture. Finally, Michaela provides valuable tips on code review tools and techniques, including the use of checklists and strategies for managing context switching.
If you’re looking to enhance your team’s code review process and foster a positive developer experience, listen now and take your code reviews to the next level!
Listen out for:
Career Journey - [00:01:53]
Awesome Code Review - [00:05:33]
Assessing Code Review Practices - [00:11:41]
Code Review Speed - [00:18:23]
Code Review & Developer Experience - [00:23:31]
Improving Code Review Cultural Aspect - [00:29:13]
Code Review Tools - [00:35:36]
Code Review Techniques - [00:42:11]
Context Switching - [00:48:15]
3 Tech Lead Wisdom - [00:54:14]
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Michaela Greiler’s Bio For over 15 years, Michaela Greiler has helped software teams build high-quality software in an efficient and effective way. Her mission is to lead teams to unlock their full potential during company workshops and team coaching sessions. She shares her findings through articles on her blog or in scientific journals, in publications such as freecodecamp and at conferences. She also runs a weekly newsletter that more than 2500 people enjoy. In this newsletter, she shares her thoughts on relevant software engineering topics and helps you stay up-to-date. She’s also the host of the software engineering unlocked podcast. Here, she interviews experienced developers, product managers and CTOs about how they build software.
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