What do you do if your code review reveals conflicts?

Understanding the nature of conflicts during a code review is essential for effective resolution. Conflicts often arise when two developers have edited the same lines of code or when changes overlap in version control systems like Git. Before attempting to resolve conflicts, it's crucial to understand the intention behind each set of changes. This understanding informs your approach to conflict resolution and ensures that the integrity of the codebase is maintained. By taking the time to comprehend the rationale behind each change, you can make informed decisions and collaborate effectively with your team to address conflicts in the code review process.

Clear communication is very essential when resolving conflicts found in a code review. It's important to reach out to the other developer involved and engage in a discussion about the conflicting changes. Whenever possible, opt for direct communication channels face-to-face meeting or screen sharing to minimize misunderstandings that can arise from written communication. During the conversation, explain the changes you made and remain open to understanding their perspective as well. Through collaborative discussion and mutual understanding, you can work together to find the best way forward that satisfies both parties and aligns with the project's goals.

Once you have a resolution plan for the conflicts identified in the code review, it's essential to merge the changes carefully. Version control tools like Git provide commands such as `git merge` or `git rebase` to integrate changes from different branches. Before finalizing the merge, it's crucial to thoroughly test the merged code to identify and address any issues that may arise from the integration. Testing ensures that the merged code functions as expected and maintains the stability and quality of the codebase. By following these steps, you can confidently merge the resolved changes while minimizing the risk of introducing new issues into the codebase.

Automated tests allow quick feedback because of their rapid execution. They are very efficient for performing regression testing , which ensures that new changes do not affect existing functionality, maintaining software integrity as it evolves. It is important to do Regression testing with automation. It lets you quickly test the whole or part of the application for every new feature release. Automated tests improve release quality because less time is spent on manual testing. Their consistent and repeatable test scenarios ensure test process reliability over time. In case of complex codebases, automated testing allows parallel tests to be executed. With frequent execution of automated tests, you can detect issues promptly.

After resolving conflicts and merging changes, it's crucial to review the new code and conduct extensive testing. This step ensures that the resolution process didn't introduce any new bugs and that the software continues to function as expected. Automated tests play a significant role in this phase, as they can quickly identify any issues that may have been introduced by the changes. If any problems are detected during testing, it's important to address them promptly to prevent them from impacting further development or deployment. By thoroughly reviewing and testing the merged code, you can maintain the quality and reliability of your software product.