A code review is basically a technical discussion which should lead to improvements in the code and/or sharing knowledge in a team. As with any conversation, it should have substance and form.
What’s involved in a good code review? What kind of problems do we want to spot and address? Trisha Gee will talk about things a reviewer may consider when looking at changes: what potential issues to look for; why certain patterns may be harmful; and, of course, what NOT to look at.
But when it comes to commenting on someone’s work, it may be hard to find the right words to convey a useful message without offending the authors - after all, this is something that they worked hard on. Maria Khalusova will share some observations, thoughts and practical tricks on how to give and receive feedback without turning a code review into a battlefield.
