The stability of the modern app code is highly crucial for ensuring that it can comply with all the standards and conventions of the modern application development industry. For this process, the application developers have to integrate various advanced processes like automation testing, performance testing, cross-browser testing, and regression testing. It is also important for app developers and testers to analyze the requirements of the current market and implement the changes accordingly. Moreover, extending the compatibility of the app on multiple devices like desktops, smartphones, and tablets can massively boost the target audience and company reach.
With this article, we are going to understand how app developers can enforce coding standards and conventions with the help of code review. We will also take a look at some of the best practices and strategies that the developers can integrate with this process.
What is Code Review
We can define code review as the systematic examination or inspection of the source code. This process is mainly performed by the developers, team members, and other peers to ensure the quality, correctness, maintainability, and adherence to the modern standards and best practices implemented by the company. We can define this process as an essential component of the modern software development life cycle. The developers typically perform this process before merging new code changes in the main code base. So, we can easily say that it is a dominant practice in all software that undergoes frequent changes and updating processes.
Let us take a brief look at all the processes that the application developers have to perform while implementing code review:
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Preparing the App
The first step is for the developers to complete a task by implementing a new feature and submit the application for the review process. Before the review, it is a common process to test the code locally by the developer. This testing process tests the basic functioning of the code and ensures that it is functional at the architectural level.
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Implementing the Request for Review
Next, the developers have to create a request for code review. This request is usually implemented through a version control system like Git. After this process, the system will automatically assign the review process to one or more reviewers.
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Performing the Review Process
Now, the reviewers have to examine the code changes line by line. They are looking for issues including performance bottlenecks, logical errors, bugs, deviations from coding standards, and even security vulnerabilities. During this process, the reviewers also have to access the overall design and architecture of the application. This process also includes verifying the placement and functioning of all the user interface elements present in the software.
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Implementing the Feedback and Discussions
Now, the reviewers will provide feedback, comments, and suggestions directly within the code review tool or using any collaborative platform. During this process, they can also submit questions or requests for clarification from the author. These requests usually verify the intentions for various features that have been added to the core infrastructure of the application.
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Receiving the Approval and Merging the Code
Once the code changes have been reviewed by the reviewers and it has been approved for the implementation process, the developers can proceed toward the final step. In this regard, it is also important that the developers have addressed all the feedback, clarifications, and questions that have been submitted by the reviewers. The final step involves merging all the changes in the main code base of the application. Then the developers can easily forward it to the production phase for rolling out to the end users.
Reasons to Implement Code Review
Now let us take a quick look at some of the major purposes that code review serves in modern application development and testing life cycle:
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Implementation of Quality Assurance
Code review helps the developers identify logic errors, bugs, and other issues that might be prevalent during the development process. So, it helps to reduce the likelihood of introducing defects in the production environment or after the application has been released to the end users.
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Sharing the Knowledge
With the proper implementation of code review, the developers can share crucial information among the team members and learn from each other’s code, best practices, and testing techniques.
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Maintaining the Standards for Coding
The practice of code review ensures that the primary codebase of the app developing company can comply with all the market standards and user expectations. This process helps in uplifting the coding standards along with improving the readability, consistency, and maintainability of the entire application and software development project.
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Scope for Continuous Improvemen
By implementing code review, the application developers and testers can ensure that they are frequently updating the source code of the application to integrate all the latest software development trends and practices. These integrations help to maintain the quality of the application so that it can appeal to a wider section of users and constantly expand the users for the company.
All these factors prove that code review is an integral part of a collaborative software development system. It also helps the developers and testers to promote collaboration, accountability, and implement overall improvement of the software that is currently being developed.
Enforcing Coding Standards and Conventions with Code Review
Let us now discuss how the app developers can enforce coding standards and conventions within the development team by implementing code reviews:
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Establishing Clear Guidelines
- Developers need to use code review for defining standards and best practices that are specific to the project or the app developing companies. In this regard, a critical step is to develop sound knowledge about the requirements of the application and its target audience.
- The developers and testers should also document these changes in a style guide or by using coding convention documents. During this process, it is also essential to maintain the simplicity of the information so that this reference can be used by all the members of the app-developing company irrespective of their technical knowledge.
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Incorporation of Standards into the Review Process
- It is also important for the developers to make adherence to coding standards a part of their code review checklist. The implementation of these standards will also ensure that the developers can uplift and maintain the quality of their products in this competitive segment of the industry.
- In this regard, we would advise the reviewers to examine whether the code aligns with the established conventions and coding standards of the app-developing company. In case they find any anomaly in this regard, they must take the subsequent actions for implementing the required changes.
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Use of Automated Tools and Linters
- We would advise the application developers and testers to implement the functionalities of automated tools and linters for analyzing the code to ensure that it meets all the latest coding standards and conventions. Using automated tools, developers can execute all the required test cases with the help of predetermined data. The function of this data is that it allows the system to replicate human interactions while communicating with the app.
- The developers can also consider the prospect of integrating cloud platforms for running all the crucial automated test cases through remote servers that are accessible around the globe. Modern AI powered test execution platforms like LambdaTest also have dedicated features for code review, including comprehensive testing reports, native bug-tracking features, and execution of parallel testing. It supports various automation testing frameworks such as Selenium, Appium, Playwright etc. The developers can also use these platforms to check the compatibility of their applications on outdated hardware and software combinations.
- It is also a good prospect to integrate continuous integration and continuous development pipelines. These pipelines will allow the software developers and testers to catch any violations at the earliest stages of the development process. Using this integration, the developers and testers can also perform the development and testing phases simultaneously.
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Implementation of Training and Education
- Code review allows the application developers to ensure that all the team members are aware of modern coding standards and conventions. It also allows app-developing companies to organize frequent workshops and awareness campaigns to spread the required information.
- During the training sessions or workshops, the application developing companies should also take possible measures to educate their developers on all the best practices regarding modern software development and testing. They should also promote the practice of continuous improvement to gain information about the changing market standards and new trends in this segment.
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Use of Consistent Review Process
- One of the most crucial parameters in this segment is to ensure consistency in the code review process across all the teams in the application development company.
- In this regard, we would encourage the reviewers to focus on not only the functionality of the software but also on its adherence to modern coding conventions and standards. This strategy will ensure that the software can maintain its position in the long run and adapt itself according to the changing standards of the application development industry.
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Use of Checklists
- Finally, the application developers need to create a code review checklist which will include specific items related to the coding standards. It is also important to customize all the parameters on this checklist according to the specific requirements of the app development project and the developing companies.
- This checklist will ensure that reviewers do not overlook critical standard adherence while focusing on other aspects during the code review process. Verifying the performance of every element present in the application is crucial to maintaining the functionality of the combined app infrastructure.
So, by integrating the coding standards in a code review process and also fostering a culture of adherence to best practices, the teams can maintain the consistency of the coding process. They can also use this process to elevate the readability and overall quality of the software development project.
The Final Verdict
So, we can easily say that by implementing code review, app developers can massively elevate the standards of their code implementation and code conventions. These factors will in turn help the app developers to ensure the quality and stability of the app architecture so that it can maintain its position in this competitive segment of the industry. We also advise app-developing companies to spread knowledge about modern app development and testing processes with the help of workshops and other seminars. During this process, we also suggest the application developers and testers have sound knowledge of the programming language and all the tools that are being used in the application development and testing process. This will help them to eliminate any obstacles or errors that might arise during the app life cycle.
