Anyone who does code reviews knows it’s not just about reviewing code and hunting for bugs. The real challenge is balancing efficiency and quality while keeping the team’s workflow smooth and productive. That means looking beyond whether the code works and considering factors like readability, maintainability, and alignment with team standards.
But where do you start? First, remember that code review isn’t about “finding mistakes” but making sure the code is clear and understandable for everyone. If you focus only on spotting issues, you miss the opportunity to improve design, promote best practices, and share knowledge.
1. Understand the context first
Before opening a pull request (PR) and diving into the review, take a moment to understand the context of the change. Read the PR description, check the related task, or even talk to the author. You don’t want to review blindly without knowing why the change was made, right?
Understanding the context makes it easier to grasp the code and allows you to provide feedback that actually matters. It also prevents wasting time pointing out things that aren’t relevant and helps ensure your feedback is focused and constructive.
2. Be objective and constructive in your feedback
When reviewing code, focus on what really impacts code quality and clarity. Prioritize business logic, performance, readability, and whether the code follows team standards and best practices. This helps keep the review objective instead of getting stuck on minor details like spacing or formatting.
Another key tip: when pointing out an issue or suggesting an improvement, always explain why you recommend that change. Well-founded comments help the author understand the reasoning and learn from the review. For example, instead of just saying, “Use a different function here,” explain, “It’s better to use map instead of forEach to return a new list since we want immutability in this context.” Providing justification prevents misunderstandings and speeds up the process because the author doesn’t have to ask why and wait for another response.
This saves time and improves the review process.
3. Code review isn’t just about pointing out mistakes
A lot of people think code review is only about finding issues, but recognizing and praising good code is just as important as giving corrective feedback. Did you see a well-organized piece of code or a creative solution? Give it a shout-out! Encouragement keeps developers motivated and creates a more positive review culture.
Remember, code review is a two-way street: reviewers learn from other people’s code, and authors learn from the feedback. By praising best practices, you reinforce good behaviors and help create a more cohesive codebase.
4. Don’t drown in giant pull requests
When a PR is too big, it becomes harder to do a thorough and effective review. To avoid this, encourage your team to submit smaller and more frequent PRs. Breaking changes into steps keeps reviews fast and focused while also reducing the chance of bugs slipping through.
Studies show that reviewing more than 200–400 lines of code at a time drastically lowers the ability to catch issues. Also, if a developer spends 60–90 minutes continuously reviewing, their effectiveness drops significantly.
Smaller PRs help the team stay focused and improve review quality.
5. Use checklists so nothing gets overlooked
A checklist is a great way to make sure you cover all key points during a code review. Create a list of what matters to your team, such as code standards, business logic, test coverage, performance, and readability. Keeping this list handy makes reviews easier and ensures nothing important gets missed.
For example:
- Does the implementation fully meet the task or problem requirements?
- Does the PR only contain the necessary changes, or are there unrelated modifications?
- Is the PR size reasonable, or should it be split into smaller parts?
- Does the code follow standards like modularity and separation of concerns?
- Is there proper test coverage for the added or modified logic?
- Are key scenarios covered by tests?
- Does the code handle sensitive data correctly?
6. Automate whatever you can
One of the best ways to keep code reviews efficient is to automate as much as possible. Linters, static analysis tools, and style validation ensure that minor details like formatting and code standards are handled automatically before manual review even begins. This frees up reviewers to focus on what really matters, like business logic and design.
Also, consider using AI-powered code review tools to further optimize the process.
Shameless plug: Automate Code Reviews with Kody
If you’re looking to automate parts of your code review, Kody can be a great ally. It’s our AI agent that automatically analyzes pull requests as soon as they’re opened on GitHub or GitLab. The goal isn’t to replace human review but to add an extra layer of analysis, highlighting possible improvements, inconsistencies, and best practices.
One of Kody’s advantages is its customization: you can define what should be reviewed, adjust the level of detail in feedback, and even exclude certain PRs based on tags. This ensures that automated code review doesn’t become a burden but complements human reviewers, focusing on meaningful details and freeing up time for more complex discussions. Learn more here.
7. Take your time and be patient
Rushing a code review is a bad idea. Taking the time to carefully review the code makes a huge difference. If you’re overloaded and can’t review properly, it’s better to delay the review rather than do it half-heartedly. A rushed review is often shallow and may overlook important issues.
Remember, the goal is to maintain code quality and help the team grow. Treat code reviews as opportunities to learn, share knowledge, and contribute to the project’s success.
8. Prioritize important issues
Not all comments carry the same weight. Focus first on bugs, logic errors, and security issues (which must be fixed). Then suggest improvements for design, performance, and best practices. Lastly, point out trivial nits (like formatting and style), preferably grouping them to avoid overwhelming the author.
Don’t let minor issues delay approval if they don’t affect functionality or maintainability. This approach keeps reviews efficient and focused.
9. Look at the big picture, not just the details
It’s easy to get caught up in the details of implementation during a code review—things like function logic or proper use of patterns. However, it’s also crucial to consider the broader picture. Ask yourself: Does this change make sense for the project? Is the code readable and well-structured? Are there opportunities to improve modularity or reduce complexity?
A good code review balances detail with a big-picture perspective. Don’t just nitpick small things—always consider what the change means for the project as a whole.
Conclusion: Code Review is About Collaboration and Learning
A good code review goes far beyond fixing problems—it’s a tool for learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement. By focusing on clear communication, respect, standardization, and automation, you can create a review process that not only improves code quality but also strengthens the team and promotes knowledge sharing.
So next time you review or get your code reviewed, keep these best practices in mind. The ultimate goal is to improve code, share knowledge, and grow as a developer—all in a constructive and collaborative way.
