If there’s one thing I’ve learned from studying code reviews and talking to engineering teams, it’s that most of them don’t have a clear style guide or well-defined guidelines for code reviews. It might seem like a small thing, but it creates a massive ripple effect. Without a coding standard, every dev just follows what they think is best. Every code review turns into a battle of personal preferences. Subjective comments take over the discussion (“I think this would look better this way,” “I prefer it like this”), while real issues like design flaws, security vulnerabilities, and performance problems can go unnoticed.
What happens when there are no standards?
The lack of a coding standard creates an inconsistent environment where PRs (pull requests) are reviewed unevenly and arbitrarily. Some direct consequences:
- Reviews based on personal taste, not technical criteria – Decisions are made based on the reviewer’s opinion rather than established best practices.
- Inconsistent feedback between different reviewers – What one reviewer asks for might be ignored by another, causing confusion.
- Developers unsure about what actually needs to be fixed – No one really knows what the rules are.
- PRs sitting idle because no one wants to review code from a “difficult” dev or a junior who needs more guidance – This directly impacts team morale and productivity.
This isn’t just an efficiency problem. It’s a cultural problem. Teams without standards reinforce unconscious biases: senior devs’ PRs pass easily, while juniors face micromanagement.
How to fix this problem?
The good news is that the solution is simple, though it requires commitment. Here are some best practices:
1. Define a style guide
Creating and following a style guide eliminates unnecessary debates and brings predictability to code reviews. Pick an established standard (like Google Style Guide, Airbnb JavaScript Guide, or PEP 8 for Python) or define an internal document aligned with the team. A well-structured style guide serves as a reference for the entire team, ensuring consistency and preventing opinion-based reviews.
2. Use checklists
Checklists help ensure that all PRs are reviewed under the same criteria. They also make onboarding new devs easier and reduce the reviewer’s cognitive load, making sure that key aspects like readability, security, and performance are consistently evaluated.
Create specific checklists for different types of reviews, like a style checklist, a security checklist, and a performance checklist, allowing for more efficient and focused reviews.
3. Avoid subjective comments
Focus on technical criteria. “I prefer it this way” is not an argument. If something can be improved, justify it with facts and best practices. Subjective comments can lead to unnecessary discussions and make code reviews a frustrating process for everyone involved.
To make feedback more effective, provide references to documentation and concrete examples. This keeps the review objective and avoids misunderstandings.
4. Adopt anonymous reviews
Removing the PR author’s name during the review can help reduce unconscious biases. This makes the process fairer and focused on code quality rather than who wrote it.
5. Build a collaborative environment
The goal of a code review is to improve the code and the team, not to win arguments. Foster an environment where feedback is constructive and everyone feels comfortable contributing.
Benefits of a well-defined coding standard
When the entire team follows a standard, code reviews become much more productive. Some direct benefits:
- Less time wasted on trivial details
- Greater focus on code quality and security
- Easier onboarding for new team members
- More readable and maintainable code
- Improved team productivity
Investing in standardization directly impacts software efficiency and quality.
Read also:
- How Small PRs Improve Team Workflow
- Code Review: What It Is and How AI Is Changing Everything
- 8 Best Practices for Code Review
Make Your Code Reviews Smarter
Code review is an essential step in software development. But if the team doesn’t have a well-defined coding standard, this process can become a bottleneck.
Setting clear conventions, automating style checks, and integrating these rules into the workflow makes all the difference. The result? A more productive team, more efficient code reviews, and more reliable code.
If your code reviews are taking too long or becoming frustrating, it might be time to revisit your coding standards. Small adjustments can lead to massive improvements in quality and speed.
