Code reviews are an essential part of maintaining high-quality code, but they can also become a bottleneck if not managed efficiently. This guide explores some best practices and tools to streamline the code review process, improve pull request efficiency, and ensure faster code reviews.
Optimize your git workflow
Stack your PRs
A stacked pull request workflow helps developers break large changes into smaller, reviewable pieces. Instead of submitting one massive pull request (PR), you submit multiple smaller PRs that are easier to review. Tools like Graphite help implement stacked PRs seamlessly, allowing teams to merge changes incrementally without unnecessary delays. This minimizes the burden on reviewers and makes it easier to revert individual changes if necessary.
Automate code quality checks
Before a PR reaches human reviewers, automate as many checks as possible. This includes:
- Linting and formatting: Ensure consistent style with automated linters like ESLint, Prettier, or Black.
- Static analysis: Use tools such as SonarQube or CodeQL to catch potential bugs and security issues.
- Unit and integration tests: Set up test automation with frameworks like Jest, Mocha, or PyTest.
- AI-powered code review tools: Teams can leverage tools like Graphite Reviewer, an AI-powered reviewer that provides immediate, actionable feedback on PRs, reducing the need for manual nitpicking.
- Dependency and security checks: Automate scanning for vulnerabilities using tools like Dependabot or Snyk.
Improve pull request efficiency
Keep PRs small and focused
Large PRs take longer to review and are prone to missing critical issues. A good rule of thumb is to keep PRs under 400 lines of code for optimal review speed. If a feature requires a larger change, consider stacking your PRs or break it down into smaller, self-contained PRs that can be reviewed independently.
Write clear PR descriptions
Provide context for reviewers by including:
- A summary of the changes
- Why the changes were necessary
- Potential areas of concern
- Any relevant links to issues or documentation
- Screenshots or videos (if applicable) to demonstrate UI changes
A well-documented PR reduces back-and-forth communication and accelerates the review process.
Use automatic reviewer assignment
Leverage tools that automatically assign reviewers based on expertise. GitHub's CODEOWNERS file or automated assignment features in tools like Graphite can help route PRs to the right people without delays. This ensures:
- Code is reviewed by domain experts
- No PR is left un-reviewed due to unclear ownership
Leverage continuous integration (CI)
CI pipelines should run tests and quality checks before a PR is even reviewed. A good CI setup should include:
- Automated testing (unit, integration, and end-to-end tests) using Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or CircleCI.
- Code coverage reports to measure test completeness and catch untested code.
- Performance benchmarks (if applicable) to detect regressions early.
- Security scans to prevent vulnerabilities from being introduced into production.
By catching errors early, CI prevents unnecessary delays during the review phase.
Use Graphite and Graphite Reviewer
Graphite: Faster PR workflows
Graphite allows engineers to:
- Implement stacked diffs, making PRs more manageable and easier to review.
- Automate merging workflows to keep development velocity high.
- Improve team collaboration with streamlined PR management.
- Visualize dependencies between PRs to avoid unnecessary conflicts and rework.
Graphite Reviewer: AI-powered feedback
Graphite Reviewer provides instant feedback on PRs, ensuring code quality before human reviewers step in. Key benefits include:
- Catching bugs early: Reduces the need for redundant human reviews.
- Enforcing team-wide best practices: Custom AI prompts ensure consistency across the codebase.
- Minimal setup: Works with existing repositories without requiring complex configurations.
- Context-aware recommendations: Uses past PRs and team conventions to provide meaningful, non-intrusive suggestions.
Additional best practices
Establish clear review guidelines
Define a checklist or rubric for reviewers so they know what to focus on. Some key points might include:
- Ensuring code is readable and well-documented
- Checking for unnecessary complexity
- Looking for performance optimizations
- Enforcing security best practices
Encourage timely reviews
Set expectations for how quickly PRs should be reviewed. A common standard is 24–48 hours, depending on team size and workload. If PRs are sitting too long, automated reminders can help keep the queue moving.
Provide constructive feedback
Reviews should be focused on improving code quality, not criticizing the developer. Use a collaborative approach:
- Suggest improvements rather than just pointing out issues.
- Praise well-written code.
- Provide context for requested changes.
Conclusion
Speeding up code reviews requires a combination of best practices and automation. By implementing a stacked PR workflow, using automated code analysis, leveraging CI, and integrating tools like Graphite and Graphite Reviewer, teams can significantly improve pull request efficiency and reduce review times.