You’re leading a distributed team. What are the best code review tools to keep everyone on the same page?

Visual Studio 2019 is the IDE for D365 development, I use it for code review as well. When my team needs to get something reviewed, they send me a code review request and assign a code review DevOps work item as well. I review the code and provide the comments on the work item plus also on the code review tab as well which my team can then incorporate and check off once applied. Having this process in place instead of a manual review directly on the developer's environment ensures there is a stringent quality check in place along with accountability of the code review process.

Team creates Pull Requests in bitbucket, that targets the merge of the code to a specific branch. Mostly it targets the development(develop) branch. And UAT bug fixes it targets the release branch and for hotfix it targets the master branch. As per the project settings mandatory reviewer’s approval are required to merge the code, along with optional reviewers from development team. Reviewers write comments, depends on the severity of the change required, reviewer can mark the pull request as “Need more work” It is Pull Request owner’s responsibility to either address the comment or discuss with the reviewer and ensure reviewer accepts the approach. Pull Request can be merged only after it gets the required number of approvals.

In leading a distributed team, effective code review tools are essential for collaboration. These tools promote seamless communication through features like inline commenting and code highlighting, fostering a collaborative environment. They enhance code quality by catching bugs early, saving time and resources. Code review tools facilitate knowledge sharing, enabling developers to learn from each other. Moreover, they enforce coding standards, ensuring uniformity in styles across the team. Overall, these tools are indispensable for maintaining consistency, fostering collaboration, and elevating code quality in a distributed team setting.

We believe in built in quality, code standards are maintained at the build level, additional checks are done using CodeQL as part of CI/CD pipeline. Regular audits are conducted to check on code quality which is very important to maintain high standards of delivery

Github and Stash/bit bucket provided by atlassian are good tools which provides real time code comment, difference between two different branches for any reviewer to see, review comment, and can be easily integrated with CI/CD pipelines...

Key features to look into any code review tool: 1. Easy to use: Tools are meant to make individuals life easy, so tools should be easy to use rather then complex. 2. Integration: Integration with CI/CD pipelines should be easy so once review is approved, it can trigger build. 3. Analysis: Should be easy to see diff, changes, who did, what changes, etc.

Accessibility: Ensure the tool is accessible from diverse devices and locations to accommodate your geographically dispersed team. Integrations: Prioritize seamless integration with your existing version control system (e.g., Git, SVN) and project management tools for a streamlined workflow. Automation: Automated checks for code quality, security, and style can save time and ensure consistency. Collaboration Features: Look for clear commenting capabilities, threaded discussions, and @mentions for effective communication. Visualization: Code diff visualizations, coverage maps, and issue tracking help keep everyone informed about code changes. Scalability: Choose a tool that can handle your team's current size and accommodate future growth.

Key features I look for in code review tools 1. Access control - Allows admin to configure who can submit changes, review code, or merge changes into the codebase. Gerrit does a sterling job with this. 2. Integration with version control 3. Code Profiling - feature that analyzes the runtime behavior of applications, helping developers identify performance bottlenecks. This allows us to go deeper than syntax and best practices. 4. Patch sets are a nice to have - Gerrit manages code changes as patch sets, making it easy to review incremental changes and providing a clear history of the evolution of the code. 5. Collaborative features are nice to have - allowing for comments and discussions like Github does.

Essential features in code review tools include version control integration (e.g., GitHub), collaborative documentation (Google Sheets), and customizable databases (Baserow). These empower teams to foster clear communication and maintain an organized development workflow.

CR - is part of change management green, brown or any other. The tools I’d use and recommend depends on the environment one is developing if python- IDLE, Eclipse IDE, etc. GitHub is my go to tool for pipelines, CI/CD azure for everything else. Task management, assignments, scheduling everything is taken care of here in DebOps by Microsoft. Once you automate most of the tasks you can focus on development.

Of course, SonarQube is the final answer. Code review sessions should be taken personally and it's not de-grading someone or pointing out someone's work. It is a continuous learning process for the entire team

Utilizei SonarQube em meus times por anos e é uma excelente ferramenta. Ter uma revis?o inicial de PRs praticamente instantanea, agiliza muito entregas e revis?es, além de casos ontem o Sonar identifica problemas que outros desenvolvedores n?o vem durante uma revis?o de código. único problema que enfrentamos foi o custo em si, para empresas pequenas acaba n?o se justificando.

In my personal experience, code review tools are chosen primarily for distributed team preferences. We mainly worked with Atlassian Bitbucket because it was integrated with Git and Mercurial and because it was good for our code review needs. On the other hand, we also used Atlassian's Jira, so the choice was obvious. Other hypotheses considered were GitLab and GitHub, because in addition to offering Git repository or Git hosting functions, they include code review tools or services. Other products worth mentioning are: Collaborator, Crucible, Gerrit, GitKraken Phabricator, Review Board and Upsource. Whatever code review tool you choose, the important thing is that the reviews are carried out and that they are not considered a waste of time.

I am using below tools from couple of years now and find them very handy. They can be easily integrate to CI/CD pipelines to have automated build and deployment once review is complete: Github Stash or bit bucket by atlassian

initiating a streamlined code review process involves incorporating GitHub for version control, Google Sheets for collaborative tracking, and Baserow for customizable databases. One thing I've found helpful is leveraging ChatGPT strategically. Integrate ChatGPT for contextual insights during discussions, enhancing the overall evaluation process. Starting one time at work with a clear framework, utilizing GitHub for version control, Google Sheets for collaborative tracking, Baserow for databases, and ChatGPT for insightful conversations ensures an efficient and comprehensive approach to code reviews.

In code reviews, it's important to be kind and helpful with feedback, focus on critical areas, break down code into manageable parts, rotate reviewers for fresh insights, encourage open discussion, learn from each other, balance thoroughness and efficiency, document decisions, celebrate progress, and keep evolving the process to make it better over time.

A responsible software project manager should not choose code reviewers in the first place but foster a culture of transparent collaboration where constructive criticism is mutually practiced to improve knowledge. Also, code quality checks should not be an expression of abstract perfectionism or adherence to fanciful trends, but rather evaluate the efficiency and maintainability of the application in relation to its purpose.

For effective code reviews, maintain consistency across tools, leverage Google Sheets for detailed comments, utilize ChatGPT for contextual discussions, and integrate Baserow for comprehensive data tracking. GitHub acts as the central hub for version control. in addition, Prioritize clarity: Ensure code is understandable. Offer constructive feedback: Focus on improvement. Be specific: Point out exact lines or issues. Encourage collaboration: Foster a positive environment. Respect deadlines: Keep reviews timely and efficient.

In top-notch code review tools, common challenges like handling too much feedback, dealing with bias, understanding context, and meeting tight deadlines are tackled through features like organized feedback systems, diverse teams, clear deadlines, and a supportive culture that encourages learning and growth.

Major challenge will be setting and meeting expectations. - Allow remote developers to work at their own pace, but set clear and concise expectations on code quality and delivery. - Establish a pattern for regular submission of PRs in small chunks - Establish a pattern of every PR being thoroughly reviewed before merging. - Provide a platform for communication to avoid misunderstandings, such as an informal weekly connect, to discuss patterns that are evolving. - Appreciate and celebrate good code to provide positive reinforcements. - Similarly, penalize repeated "bad patterns" - Document recurring issues in internal notion/blog/publications and address them in weekly connects or during sprints

Challenges in code reviews, such as communication gaps, can be addressed by utilizing collaborative features in Google Sheets, real-time discussions with ChatGPT, and maintaining a structured database in Baserow. This ensures efficient issue resolution.

Leading a distributed team demands robust code review tools for seamless collaboration. Platforms like GitHub and GitLab enable comprehensive reviews with inline feedback, ensuring everyone stays on the same page. Consider tools like CodeStream for threaded discussions and integrations with project management tools. Scalability and compatibility with your tech stack are key factors. Support for automated testing streamlines reviews, aligning code with quality standards and project goals. In the era of remote collaboration, choosing a tool that fosters effective communication is crucial for project success.

The best tools for keeping a distributed team on the same page include communication platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams for real-time messaging, video conferencing tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams for virtual meetings, project management tools like Asana or Trello for task tracking and collaboration, and cloud storage services such as Google Drive or Dropbox for file sharing and document collaboration. Additionally, using version control systems like Git and collaboration platforms like GitHub or GitLab can facilitate code management and review processes.

In most orgs, PRs (Pull Requests) are a venue for code reviews, and here is how you can keep it simple, irrespective of the tools. 1. Keep the PRs as small as possible to make reviewing it easier. 2. If you are working on a task, make sure that the person reviewing the code has a full understanding of the task and the background of it, which is not always something you can expect from senior developers - also make sure that the same person is reviewing all the PRs for the said task. 3. Do reviews often and early, that way you can prevent a pattern of mistakes from being repeated through the project.