How can you manage code reviews remotely?

1 Choose a code review tool

When managing code reviews remotely, the first step is to select a tool that meets your needs and preferences. There are numerous options, such as GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Gerrit, CodeGuru, and more. Features to consider include integration with your version control system and workflow, support for various languages and frameworks, the ability to comment, suggest, approve, or reject changes, notifications and reminders, analytics and metrics, security and privacy. Additionally, you should evaluate the ease of use, cost, and compatibility of the tool with your team and project.

3 Prepare your code for review

Before submitting your code for review, you should ensure that it is ready and easy to understand. To do this, it is best to follow the coding style and conventions of your project, write clear and descriptive commit messages, split your code into small and logical chunks, add comments and documentation where needed, run tests to check for errors, resolve any merge conflicts, and provide context and explanation for your changes. Taking these steps will not only save time and effort for you and your reviewers but also reduce the chances of misunderstandings or mistakes.

4 Communicate effectively with your reviewers

Communication is essential for remote code reviews, as it facilitates the exchange of feedback and collaboration. Nonetheless, communication can be difficult, particularly when dealing with different languages, cultures, and time zones. To communicate effectively with your reviewers, it is important to utilize the right channel and tone for your messages. Be respectful, polite, and constructive in your interactions. Furthermore, try to avoid jargon, slang, and sarcasm. Ask questions to seek clarification and acknowledge and appreciate the feedback you receive. Additionally, respond promptly to messages and follow up on any actions necessary. Communication is a two-way process; therefore, you should also be open to listen, learn, and improve from your reviewers.

5 Review your own code and others' code

One of the best ways to improve your code quality and skills is to review your own code and others' code. By doing this, you can identify errors, refactor your code, learn new techniques, discover best practices, and share your knowledge. When reviewing your own or others' code, use a checklist or a tool to guide you, focus on the logic, functionality, and readability of the code, provide specific, actionable, and positive feedback. Additionally, avoid nitpicking or personalizing the feedback when possible. Finally, accept feedback gracefully and implement the suggestions. All in all, reviewing your own code and others' code is a valuable opportunity to grow as a developer and a team player.

6 Automate and streamline the code review process

The final step to manage code reviews remotely is to automate and streamline the process as much as possible. This can save time, reduce errors, and enforce standards. To do this, you should use tools and scripts to automate tasks like formatting, testing, linting, and checking. Templates and bots can also be used to automate messages, reminders, and approvals. In addition, hooks and triggers can help automate workflows and integrations, while shortcuts and keyboard commands can streamline your actions. Filters and labels can also be used to streamline reviews, while metrics and dashboards can be used to streamline analysis and improvement. Automation and streamlining can make the code review process more productive and enjoyable.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?