Your team lacks detailed feedback during code reviews. How can you inspire them to provide more?
Code reviews can be a goldmine for team improvement if done right. To encourage detailed feedback:
- Set clear expectations for code review standards and outcomes.
- Provide training sessions on effective communication and critical analysis skills.
- Create a template for reviewers to ensure thoroughness and consistency.
How have you encouraged your team to provide more detailed feedback during code reviews?
Your team lacks detailed feedback during code reviews. How can you inspire them to provide more?
Code reviews can be a goldmine for team improvement if done right. To encourage detailed feedback:
- Set clear expectations for code review standards and outcomes.
- Provide training sessions on effective communication and critical analysis skills.
- Create a template for reviewers to ensure thoroughness and consistency.
How have you encouraged your team to provide more detailed feedback during code reviews?
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Paulo Gomes
Data Scientist | Machine Learning | Computer Vision | Deep Learning | LLM | RAG | Python
To encourage more detailed feedback during code reviews, I think it starts with fostering a culture where feedback feels like an opportunity to grow, not just criticism. I try to lead by example, giving specific, thoughtful feedback and showing how it helps improve the project and everyone’s skills. Another thing that works well is pairing up team members for reviews occasionally. Talking through the code together can bring out deeper insights. And let’s not forget to celebrate great reviews, recognizing the effort behind constructive feedback goes a long way!
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During a pivotal project, our code reviews lacked depth—comments like "LGTM" were the norm. To address this, I collaborated with the team to define clear standards, covering test coverage, readability, and edge cases. I introduced a review checklist and shared best practices, using real examples from our codebase. Leading by example, I provided thoughtful feedback and fostered a culture where reviews felt collaborative, not critical. The results were immediate: reviews became more detailed, code quality improved, and the team grew more confident in providing constructive feedback. We turned a routine process into a tool for growth.
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Realizamos uma reunião específica com o time para alinhar a importância de feedbacks detalhados durante as revisões de código, definindo padrões claros e boas práticas para aprimorar a qualidade do processo. Isso ajudou bastante toda a equipe pra ter mais atenção em suas revisões melhorando o processo.
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I’ve found that fostering a culture of collaboration and psychological safety is key to encouraging detailed feedback. Start by emphasizing that reviews aren’t about critique but about building quality together. Pair junior developers with seasoned mentors during reviews to model effective feedback. Incentivize detailed input by celebrating examples of constructive reviews in team meetings. Finally, use metrics like the percentage of actionable comments to spotlight the impact of thorough reviews. By reinforcing that every suggestion strengthens the team, you create an environment where detailed feedback becomes a norm.
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Build a Shared Definition of “Good” Feedback: At the start of a new project cycle or as part of a team skill-up meeting, I dedicated time to discuss what well-rounded code review feedback should look like. Together, we came up with examples of both strong and weak reviews and annotated them. Pair-Review Sessions for Training: Before expecting individual reviewers to elevate their feedback quality, I ran a series of pair-review sessions. An experienced reviewer and a more junior reviewer would go through a small pull request together. Close the Loop on Feedback: Reviewers can lose motivation to provide in-depth feedback if it feels like their comments disappear into a void.
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➡Unlock Better Code Reviews🚀: Boost Detailed Feedback👨💻! - 💡 Shift the Focus to Learning: Encourage reviewers to see feedback as a learning opportunity for themselves, not just an evaluation. - 🛠️ Gamify Feedback: Turn code reviews into a challenge by recognizing the most helpful, insightful feedback in team meetings. - 🎯 Use "Actionable" Feedback: Emphasize actionable suggestions over vague comments. Encourage reviewers to suggest solutions, rather point out problems. - 🗣️ Foster a Safe Environment: Create a culture where constructive criticism is welcomed and seen as an essential part of growth. - 🔄 Iterate and Improve: Let your team know it’s okay to revisit code after feedback is given. Continuous improvement is the goal.
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To encourage detailed feedback during code reviews, start by setting clear expectations. Define the purpose of code reviews—not just to find faults but to improve code readability, maintainability, and alignment with standards. Provide a checklist for reviews, covering key aspects like functionality, logic, edge cases, and adherence to coding guidelines. Lead by example—offer thoughtful and constructive feedback yourself, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement. Foster a growth-oriented culture by recognizing good review practices and encouraging open communication. Finally, conduct periodic sessions to discuss review techniques, share insights, and emphasize how thorough reviews enhance team productivity and product quality
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Unas de las formas que usaría para lograr que aporten más sería resaltar su trabajo, preguntar, -¿Como hiciste esto? Me gusta como hace aquello. -Me gusta esta forma, capaz hay mejor forma. -Encontrar y mostrar ejemplos parecidos que puedan inspirar. -Plantear casos hipotéticos que se asemejen a lo codeado. etc. No es menos cierto que en las ciencias de la computación somos introvertidos, ganar en comunicación y establecer vínculos sociales ayuda a expresar mejor las ideas. Cito al Zen de Python: "Errors should never pass silently".
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To enforce code review feedback, one must first enforce the importance of code reviews as not just the action of pressing the Merge button. Devs that are encouraged to spend time in review will eventually start giving better feedback while doing it. Another point is that devs may feel lazy and discouraged to spend too much time in reviewing huge chunks of code. Smaller tasks and features become smaller pull requests and smaller pull requests give room to better reviews.
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Ask the team to focus on "why" and "how" during reviews, not just "what." Encourage them to think like mentors, helping teammates grow. Create a safe space where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas, and remind them that strong reviews make everyone’s work better. Acknowledge and appreciate team members who give detailed input to encourage others.
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