Code Review

Criteria for Approving a Code Change:

1. Regression Test Compatibility: Approve if the change passes all existing regression tests without causing failures.
2. Style Guide Adherence: Ensure the change meets the project's style guide requirements, including proper formatting and indentation.
3. Program Modularity: The change should not disrupt the existing structure and modularity of the program.
4. API Documentation: All modifications or additions to APIs must be thoroughly documented, including clear descriptions of inputs and outputs.
5. Design Documentation: The change should include documentation explaining the design decisions made.
6. Non-Functional Attributes: Approve if the change maintains or enhances non-functional aspects of the software, such as performance, security, and usability.
7. Test Coverage: The change must be accompanied by adequate tests, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the new code.
8. Preconditions and Postconditions: The change should assert the weakest preconditions and/or the strongest postconditions to maintain code integrity.

Modern Code Review Practices: Insights and Recommendations

1. Efficiency in Identifying Bugs:
   • Only about 15% of review comments point out potential bugs.
   • The majority (50%) of comments typically focus on syntax and style compliance.
   • Approximately 33% of the comments are considered useful by the code author.
2. Learning Curve for New Reviewers:
   • New reviewers are quick learners, but they usually require a period of 6-12 months to reach the productivity level of their peers in the team.
3. Importance of Rigorous Review Criteria:
   • Implementing stringent criteria for code reviews is essential to enhance their effectiveness.
4. Developing a Critical Perspective:
   • Developers should cultivate a critical approach when reviewing code changes. This involves thorough consideration of potential corner cases and unexpected behaviors.

Hoare Logic

Purpose and Application:

• Hoare Logic provides logical rules for systematically reasoning about the correctness of computer programs.
• This method aids in improving code comprehension, facilitating collaboration, streamlining code reviews, and aiding in the identification of bugs.

Core Mechanism: