How can you review code in an unfamiliar language effectively?

Before embarking on the code review of an unfamiliar language, it is crucial to clearly identify the objective of this task and define the scope of the review. This involves understanding the project requirements, the specific features of the code to be reviewed, and the expectations regarding the quality of the final code. This initial step allows for the effective targeting of review efforts and directs the analysis towards the most relevant aspects.

To understand the purpose and its scope: 1) Ensure that you understand the specific problem, the code aims to solve. 2) Gather information from any available documentation, design documents, or specifications. 3) If possible, reach out to the code's author or other developers familiar with the language for insights.

For the review of the structure and its design one should analyze the code of the organization and recognizing common design patterns used in the language to understand code organization.

To review code in an unfamiliar language, start by assessing its organization into files, modules, classes, functions, and variables. Look for a logical flow and readability. Understand how the code interacts with databases, APIs, frameworks, and libraries within the web application. This is considered to be most important part in Open Source too... Focus on identifying patterns and dependencies and give a try to contribute too.

Once the objective and scope are clearly defined, reviewing the structure and design of code in an unfamiliar language becomes essential. This step involves evaluating the overall organization of the code, checking for structural consistency, and analyzing the quality of the design. Examining how the code is arranged, the clarity of variable and function names, as well as adherence to coding conventions, are crucial aspects to ensure a solid foundation before delving into a more in-depth review.

When evaluating interview assignments conducted in a different programming language, I typically consider several key aspects: Organizational Clarity: I assess the code's organizational structure, aiming for a self-documenting quality that facilitates easy comprehension. Reliability through Exception Handling and Testing: I seek evidence of thoughtful error-handling mechanisms and test cases that instill confidence in the code's functionality. Effective API and Library Utilization: I look to the code's integration with external resources and its use of APIs and libraries to streamline development avoiding unnecessary reinvention of the wheel

For the logic and flow one should follow the execution path, using debugging and app visualization tools which can represent the code's structure and dependencies to grasp its flow better.

Understand the Basics Use Documentation Leverage Tools and IDE Features Review High-Level Structure Identify Patterns and Conventions Review Unit Tests Ask Questions