What are some effective ways to solicit and receive feedback on your own code?

1 Ask for specific feedback

When you submit your code for review, don't just expect your reviewers to find everything that's wrong or right with it. Instead, ask them for specific feedback on certain aspects of your code, such as design, logic, readability, or performance. This will help you focus the review on the areas that you want to improve, and also show your reviewers that you value their input and expertise.

2 Be open-minded and respectful

Code review is not a competition or a critique of your abilities. It's a collaborative effort to improve the quality and maintainability of the codebase. Therefore, you should be open-minded and respectful when you receive feedback from your reviewers. Don't take it personally or defensively, but rather try to understand their perspective and reasoning. Thank them for their feedback, and acknowledge their suggestions and insights.

3 Respond to feedback promptly and clearly

Once you receive feedback on your code, you should respond to it promptly and clearly. Don't leave your reviewers hanging, or make them guess what you did or didn't do with their feedback. Instead, reply to their comments, explain your changes, and ask for clarification if needed. This will show your reviewers that you appreciate their time and effort, and also keep the review process moving smoothly.

4 Use tools and best practices

Code review can be easier and more effective if you use tools and best practices that support communication and collaboration. For example, you can use a code review platform that allows you to comment, annotate, and approve code changes online. You can also use a coding style guide that defines the standards and conventions for your codebase, and a linter that checks your code for errors and inconsistencies. These tools and practices can help you avoid common pitfalls and misunderstandings in code review.

5 Seek feedback from multiple sources

Code review is not the only way to get feedback on your code. You can also seek feedback from other sources, such as mentors, peers, users, or online communities. These sources can offer you different perspectives, insights, and advice on your code, and help you broaden your horizons and learn new skills. You can also use these sources to complement or validate the feedback you get from code review, and to find out more about the topics or issues that interest you.

6 Apply feedback to your future code

Finally, code review is not a one-time event, but a continuous learning opportunity. You should not only apply the feedback you get to your current code, but also to your future code. Try to remember and incorporate the feedback you get into your coding habits, practices, and decisions. This will help you improve your code quality, consistency, and efficiency over time, and also show your reviewers that you take their feedback seriously and constructively.