PyCon Pittsburgh. April 15-23, 2020.

Talk: How to Do Code Reviews Like a Human

Presented by:

Michael Lynch

Description

Are code reviews a source of tension on your team? Do they lead to conflict, bikeshedding, and wasted time?

Most of the discussion we hear about code reviews is technical. We focus myopically on minimizing cost and maximizing bug discoveries. But reviews are as much a social exercise as a technical one. They’re an opportunity for teammates to share knowledge and bond through collaboration. That can’t happen if people are strangling each other over where to place the curly braces.

In this talk, you’ll learn practical techniques to improve communication and minimize conflict during code reviews. I’ll talk about:

  • Reducing human effort of reviews through automation
  • Increasing your team’s review velocity
  • Giving sincere praise
  • Framing discussions for constructive debate
  • Mitigating stalemates