Code Review: 超越“审、查、评”的代码回顾

Code Review: A Process of Collective Learning and Pattern Identification

Code Review should be a process of collective learning and daily improvement within a software development team, rather than an intimidating session filled with judgment, examination, and evaluation. The term "Code Review" is preferred over "Code Inspection" or "Code Audit" to avoid a tense atmosphere that could lead to defensiveness and reduced effectiveness.

Focus on Pattern Identification

The goal of Code Review is for team members to learn together by identifying patterns in coding habits, including both positive patterns (expressive class names, single-responsibility methods, proper formatting) and anti-patterns (confusing abbreviations, overly long classes, complex nested if-else statements). This collaborative identification process is both an opportunity for individual learning and a way to reach a consensus on writing clean code as a team.

Authorship and Bugs Are Not the Focus

In Code Review, the focus is on recognizing good and bad coding patterns rather than on the author of the code. By not emphasizing authorship, code contributors can feel more comfortable and receptive to constructive feedback. Similarly, finding bugs is not the primary purpose of Code Review; rather, it is about recognizing and reinforcing good programming habits.

Expert Opinions and Review Efficiency

Even when code meets cleanliness standards, experts may suggest alternative approaches or designs. While valuable, these suggestions are not the focus of Code Review and are better discussed privately after the review session to keep the meeting focused and efficient.

Code Review as a Daily Routine

Code Review should be a short, daily activity to facilitate continuous learning. To encourage ongoing participation, it is crucial to create a non-judgmental environment that emphasizes pattern recognition rather than fault-finding. Limiting sessions to 30 minutes and reviewing 200-300 lines of code from the day's work is an effective approach.

Practical Implementation

The practical implementation of Code Review involves having a group of programmers (7-8) meet for half an hour before the end of the day to discuss code in a structured manner. The session is guided by a facilitator and focuses on understanding the code, identifying good patterns to encourage, and discussing anti-patterns for improvement. Throughout the process, time is managed carefully, and the identity of the code author is not highlighted.

Conclusion

Code Review, or better termed "Code Retrospective," is a process designed for collective learning, pattern identification, and daily practice. By reframing the activity in this way, teams can improve their code quality without the negative connotations of traditional "Code Audits" or "Code Inspections."