What are the benefits of having clear code review standards and guidelines?

Some tips to prepare your code for code review: 1. Run a linter to format your code - your code review will be thankful 2. Make sure to follow design patterns if they are applicable - do not reinvent the wheel 3. Do not use anti-pattern - read #2 4. Avoid code smells 5. With each PR, update your dependencies - this will prevent your stack from being outdated. 6. Run your dependencies against the security scanner - your code may be perfect, but your dependencies may not.

In the context of web, there are just way too many acceptable patterns. Even for a simple loop, there are two camps -- the one that uses some kind of iterator syntax (like map) for the declarative-ness versus the simple for loop for speed. Needless to say, you can butt heads in almost every little thing, crippling the speed to ship code. It doesn't help that webdev itself doesn't really have an universal pattern (closest being airbnb's perhaps?) Thus, you need coding standards. Heck, they don't even need to be "right." You just need an incumbent standard. It is so important that any PR comment about coding should be accompanied by a link to a standard or lint rule.

They enable you to understand and have a good insight of a particular code even if you're not a programmer or developer, and they also set you at world class standards with your clients and stakeholders.

Clear code review standards ensure consistency across the codebase, enhancing code quality and making reviews more efficient. These guidelines facilitate early issue detection, encourage collaboration, and boost developer skills. Adhering to standards leads to a streamlined development process and the creation of robust, maintainable applications that meet stakeholder expectations. This approach is crucial for maintaining a high-quality codebase, minimizing project risks, and ensuring the success of applications in various environments. It fosters a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing among developers, enhancing overall project quality and performance.

Clear code standard are important for having the common code styling across team members. Make the onbording new team members easier and provide help in code maintenance

To establish code review standards, first assess current coding practices and solicit team input for broad buy-in. Look to industry standards for benchmarks. Draft concise guidelines on coding styles, architecture, security, and documentation, including examples. Refine through team feedback. Formalize and make them accessible, integrating tools like linters for enforcement. Conduct workshops for education and ensure guidelines are easily available, e.g., on a wiki. Regularly review and update to stay current with evolving technologies and practices. This approach fosters a culture of quality and continuous improvement, keeping standards practical and aligned with team needs.

The best way to enforce certain rules is to use pre-commit hooks. You can configure those to run linters, type checks, various dependency scanners, etc. With this, you are making sure that the whole team uses the same standards across the project(s). One is unable to commit unless all the code checks pass.

Benefiting from code review standards involves learning from peer feedback to improve coding skills and embracing automated tools for consistent quality. Regularly revising these standards ensures they stay relevant and effective. By fostering a collaborative review culture, teams can share knowledge, identify issues early, and streamline development processes. This approach not only elevates code quality but also enhances team dynamics, leading to more robust and maintainable applications.