Focusing on what actually matters during a code review is key to keeping code quality high and the team productive. (Otherwise, it turns into that classic ego battle.)

Here’s a checklist we go through (actually, Kody 🤖 does) every time we run a review:

1️⃣ Design & Architecture
↳ Does the code fit well with the rest of the system?
↳ Does it avoid unnecessary complexity and stay maintainable long-term?
↳ Does it solve the current problem without over-engineering?

2️⃣ Functionality & Logic
↳ Does the code do what it’s supposed to do?
↳ Does it handle the right use cases and edge cases?
↳ Does it avoid unexpected side effects?

3️⃣ Tests & Coverage
↳ Are there proper tests covering the changes?
↳ Are the tests clear and effective at catching issues?
↳ Is the test coverage solid enough to ensure quality?

4️⃣ Clarity & Maintainability
↳ Is the code easy for other devs to understand?
↳ Are names consistent and meaningful?
↳ Do comments explain the “why” behind decisions, not just the “what”?

Some extra tips:

Automate whatever you can;

Keep the tone constructive: Positive feedback and helpful suggestions create a more collaborative vibe and help everyone level up.

Avoid huge pull requests: Break big changes into smaller, more manageable chunks to make reviewing easier and reduce the chance of missing stuff.

Want to try Kody on your reviews? Check out our repo: https://github.com/kodustech/kodus-ai