|
| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +slug: ai-code-reviews-reclaims |
| 3 | +title: How AI Code Review Reclaims Your Team's Time |
| 4 | +description: How AI Code Review Reclaims Your Team's Time |
| 5 | +authors: [simone] |
| 6 | +tags: ["AI", "Code Review", "Productivity"] |
| 7 | +image: /img/blog-previews/ai-code-reviews-reclaims.png |
| 8 | +--- |
| 9 | + |
| 10 | +### Introduction |
| 11 | + |
| 12 | +In the era of building and improving products fast, engineering managers |
| 13 | +encounter fresh challenges that render traditional strategies outdated. The |
| 14 | +amount of time spent trying to make sure that teams not only build products |
| 15 | +fast, but also without breaking too much stuff or introducing security |
| 16 | +vulnerabilities, is significant. |
| 17 | + |
| 18 | +One of the most time-intensive tasks involves conducting code reviews – these |
| 19 | +crucial checkpoints serve as guardians, shielding your codebase from potential |
| 20 | +chaos. Additionally, code reviews are an essential part of |
| 21 | +[compliance](https://mitratech.com/en_gb/governance-risk-compliance/what-is-enterprise-compliance/); |
| 22 | +which is often a requirement when working in an enterprise. Despite their |
| 23 | +significance, they can also turn into obstacles, occasionally stalling the |
| 24 | +deployment process. The question at hand is: How can we navigate through this |
| 25 | +impediment while upholding top-notch code quality? |
| 26 | + |
| 27 | +Introducing AI-powered code reviews! Picture your team's pull requests getting |
| 28 | +reviewed as soon as they're made. That's the magic of AI code review tools. For |
| 29 | +teams, this means you don't have to wait for hours to get feedback. Reviewers |
| 30 | +can still offer more feedback later. It also means your teams can stay on track, |
| 31 | +creating and releasing features, without the usual delays of waiting for code |
| 32 | +reviews. |
| 33 | + |
| 34 | +We'll discuss the regular stages of software projects and the impact of AI code |
| 35 | +reviewers like [CodeRabbit](https://coderabbit.ai) in this digital era. You'll |
| 36 | +gain a detailed insight into how these tools are changing the game, making code |
| 37 | +reviews faster, smarter, and surprisingly, more human-like. |
| 38 | + |
| 39 | +<!--truncate--> |
| 40 | + |
| 41 | +### The Typical Software Lifecycle Process |
| 42 | + |
| 43 | + |
| 44 | + |
| 45 | +Ah, the software lifecycle—the process where we turn ideas into lines of code |
| 46 | +that build our products. If you're an engineering manager, you're already |
| 47 | +well-versed in the dogma: planning, coding, testing, deploying, and maintaining. |
| 48 | +It's a continuous cycle with its own set of challenges. |
| 49 | + |
| 50 | +So, where do code reviews fit into this? They help us make sure that we know |
| 51 | +what we are shipping to our users by having different people cross-check each |
| 52 | +other's work. You can't skip them; they serve as a critical validation point, |
| 53 | +ensuring that the code you're churning out works and is optimized and secure. |
| 54 | +Code reviews are the gatekeepers that scrutinize your code before it gets the |
| 55 | +VIP pass to merge into the main branch. |
| 56 | + |
| 57 | +But let's be real. Traditionally, this process has been manual, slow (with |
| 58 | +delays between opening pull requests and having them reviewed), subjective, and, |
| 59 | +yes, prone to human error. But if there's anything the advent of AI code review |
| 60 | +tools shows us, there is an opportunity to reclaim some of the time we spend |
| 61 | +doing code reviews. |
| 62 | + |
| 63 | +In the upcoming sections, we'll dive deeper into how the traditional and often |
| 64 | +cumbersome process of code reviews is changing with AI. |
| 65 | + |
| 66 | +### The Traditional Code Review Method |
| 67 | + |
| 68 | + |
| 69 | + |
| 70 | +In the conventional approach, code reviews followed this pattern: one developer |
| 71 | +wrote the code and then passed it on to another person for evaluation. The |
| 72 | +reviewer took their time to meticulously inspect the code submitted by the |
| 73 | +developer. This involved examining lines of code and making notes, comments, |
| 74 | +questions, and identifying any problems. This process typically unfolds as |
| 75 | +follows: |
| 76 | + |
| 77 | +- A developer creates a Pull Request (PR) and outlines the changes made, |
| 78 | + requesting a review. |
| 79 | +- The reviewer, who might be another developer or an engineering manager, |
| 80 | + assesses the code, looking for specific aspects such as: |
| 81 | + - Ensuring that the PR changes align with the scope of the associated |
| 82 | + ticket(s). |
| 83 | + - Confirming the accuracy of business logic implementation. |
| 84 | + - Maintaining or improving code quality by reverting unnecessary changes and |
| 85 | + upholding code quality standards. |
| 86 | + - Verifying that the changes do not introduce security vulnerabilities. |
| 87 | +- The reviewer either approves or rejects the PR. |
| 88 | +- If approved, the PR can be merged. |
| 89 | +- If rejected, the reviewer provides feedback on the required updates for |
| 90 | + approval. |
| 91 | + |
| 92 | +This process has been a fundamental part of modern coding. It relies on the |
| 93 | +availability of both the reviewer to provide feedback and the developer to make |
| 94 | +changes based on that feedback. |
| 95 | + |
| 96 | +However, manual code reviews can be likened to a risky game with your code's |
| 97 | +quality, somewhat resembling playing Russian Roulette. Even with a highly |
| 98 | +skilled team, opinions and fatigue can occasionally lead to overlooked mistakes. |
| 99 | +Additionally, the pressure of other tasks can make code reviews seem necessary |
| 100 | +but frustrating. |
| 101 | + |
| 102 | +Yet, can we truly afford to skip or rush this step? No, not without inviting |
| 103 | +bugs and bottlenecks down the road. Thankfully, technological advancements, such |
| 104 | +as AI code review tools, show us a better, more efficient way to review code |
| 105 | +without having to rely solely on the availability of a human reviewer. |
| 106 | + |
| 107 | +### Challenges of Code Reviews in Teams |
| 108 | + |
| 109 | +Consider this scenario: You've created exceptional code, much like a perfectly |
| 110 | +blended smoothie, ready to delight users. However, before you can serve it, |
| 111 | +you'd like a team member to evaluate it. This step is crucial because, even when |
| 112 | +you put forth your best effort, some issues might go unnoticed. These issues can |
| 113 | +later evolve into significant problems, such as critical bugs, system crashes, |
| 114 | +or vulnerabilities. Now, imagine that this team member resides in a different |
| 115 | +time zone, perhaps asleep or preoccupied with other tasks. It's akin to |
| 116 | +attempting to share your smoothie at a party, where everyone struggles to find |
| 117 | +the right moment for a sip. |
| 118 | + |
| 119 | +So, what's the solution? You could attempt to enforce a strict schedule for |
| 120 | +everyone or request team members to work during unconventional hours. However, |
| 121 | +this approach can lead to exhaustion and unhappiness. Instead, why not harness |
| 122 | +technology to address this challenge? This is where AI-powered code review tools |
| 123 | +come into play. They operate continuously, regardless of time zones, sleep |
| 124 | +patterns, or changing moods. They're consistently available to assess your |
| 125 | +code's quality without obstructing your project's progress. |
| 126 | + |
| 127 | +The following sections will delve into how these AI platforms streamline code |
| 128 | +reviews, making them more manageable and remarkably efficient. Spoiler alert: |
| 129 | +Your perception of code quality and team productivity is about to undergo a |
| 130 | +transformation. |
| 131 | + |
| 132 | +### Why Manual Reviews Slow You Down: A Look at Productivity Metrics |
| 133 | + |
| 134 | +In code reviews, problems can happen even when everyone works in the same place. |
| 135 | +Sometimes, teams just agree without really checking. People might not get along, |
| 136 | +causing delays and making things tense. Plus, even if we try really hard, some |
| 137 | +issues can slip by us and turn into big, expensive problems like bugs or system |
| 138 | +crashes. So, we need better ways to catch these problems early. |
| 139 | + |
| 140 | +Let's look at some numbers because engineering managers really like facts and |
| 141 | +figures. Studies tell us that developers spend around 20-30% of their time |
| 142 | +[doing code reviews](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/2023/09/03/the-code-review-struggle-is-real-heres-what-you-need-to-know/). |
| 143 | +There's even a study |
| 144 | +[here](https://smartbear.com/learn/code-review/best-practices-for-peer-code-review/) |
| 145 | +that shows our brains struggle to review more than about 400 lines of code at |
| 146 | +once, making it harder to spot mistakes. |
| 147 | + |
| 148 | +We all know time is super important. It doesn't just impact how much money the |
| 149 | +project makes, but it also affects how much your team gets paid and, in the big |
| 150 | +picture, how well the company does overall. When a big chunk of your developers' |
| 151 | +time is used up reviewing code, it's not just a tech thing anymore – it's a big |
| 152 | +deal for the whole business. |
| 153 | + |
| 154 | +Think about it this way: these hours aren't spent on making cool new stuff, |
| 155 | +resolving problems, or coming up with fresh ideas. Instead, they're used up |
| 156 | +carefully looking at code that's already there, trying to find mistakes, things |
| 157 | +that could work better, and stuff that doesn't fit. This is often where things |
| 158 | +slow down and work takes longer. While making sure the code is great is |
| 159 | +important, doing it manually uses up resources that could be used better |
| 160 | +elsewhere. |
| 161 | + |
| 162 | +This isn't just about shipping faster—although who doesn't want to do that? It's |
| 163 | +also about optimizing your team's time so they can focus on what they do best: |
| 164 | +create remarkable software. If an AI code review tool can handle the initial |
| 165 | +pass, highlighting potential issues with the code, the developer can resolve |
| 166 | +initial feedback faster and your human experts can spend their time solving more |
| 167 | +complex, higher-level problems. |
| 168 | + |
| 169 | +In the next section, we'll understand how AI-powered code reviewers offer a more |
| 170 | +efficient, context-aware, and timely alternative to the traditional approach. |
| 171 | +Because let's face it, it's time our methods evolved to match the pace of modern |
| 172 | +development cycles of rapid development and iteration. |
| 173 | + |
| 174 | +### AI-Powered Code Reviews: This Changes Everything |
| 175 | + |
| 176 | + AI, or Artificial Intelligence, might sound like a |
| 177 | +trendy word, but in the world of reviewing computer code, it's not just a |
| 178 | +passing trend – it's a real game-changer. When we talk about AI in code review |
| 179 | +tools, we're not just talking about existing linters or static code analysis |
| 180 | +tools. Instead, we're referring to smart feedback that understands the context |
| 181 | +of your team's coding rules and the particular project you're working on. |
| 182 | + |
| 183 | +But there's more to it. These AI-powered systems can chat with you, making the |
| 184 | +review process feel like a collaboration rather than a machine. This means you |
| 185 | +can ask questions, seek clarifications, and even discuss the best approaches, |
| 186 | +all in real time. It's like having your most experienced developer, who knows |
| 187 | +your code inside and out, ready for reviews 24/7. |
| 188 | + |
| 189 | +Let's clarify a common misunderstanding: AI-based code reviewers are not the |
| 190 | +same as code generators. Code generators like |
| 191 | +[GitHub Copilot](https://github.com/features/copilot) assist you in writing |
| 192 | +code, while AI code reviewers are meant to assess and improve it. They are two |
| 193 | +related tools, each with its own unique features and advantages. |
| 194 | + |
| 195 | +In summary, AI-powered code reviews provide faster and reliable feedback without |
| 196 | +sacrificing quality or depth. This enhances your team's productivity and allows |
| 197 | +you to push the boundaries of what's possible in your development process. You |
| 198 | +can learn more by checking this out: |
| 199 | +[AI and the Future of Code Reviews: A Deep Dive into CodeRabbit.](../coderabbit-deep-dive-2023-08-26/blog.md) |
| 200 | + |
| 201 | +In the final part, we'll wrap up by explaining why using AI for code reviews |
| 202 | +could be a smart strategy you may not have realized you needed. Get ready to |
| 203 | +embrace the future, everyone. It's becoming highly efficient. Also, AI code |
| 204 | +reviews can assist you in meeting compliance requirements in corporate |
| 205 | +environments. |
| 206 | + |
| 207 | +### Conclusion: The Future is Now |
| 208 | + |
| 209 | +Why is now the best time? Well, in simpler terms, before GPT, the automated |
| 210 | +tools we had were limited to linting or static code analysis. |
| 211 | + |
| 212 | +As we come to the end of this digital journey, we've seen how software is made, |
| 213 | +the challenges of checking code manually, and the exciting potential of using AI |
| 214 | +for code reviews. Now, if you're a smart engineering manager looking to keep |
| 215 | +your team fast, efficient, and creative, what should you keep in mind? |
| 216 | + |
| 217 | +First, it's pretty clear that code reviews are changing fast. We're no longer |
| 218 | +stuck with just people's schedules and opinions. With AI helping out, we're |
| 219 | +heading towards a future where code reviews are faster, smarter, more detailed, |
| 220 | +and surprisingly, more like how humans do it. |
| 221 | + |
| 222 | +Second, don't underestimate how this change affects your whole process of making |
| 223 | +software. Quicker reviews mean you can speed up changes and improvements, making |
| 224 | +your team more flexible and ready to jump on opportunities. |
| 225 | + |
| 226 | +Lastly, remember that technology isn't just about using new tools; it's about |
| 227 | +using them right to improve things. AI-powered code reviews are super quick, |
| 228 | +super accurate, and super thorough, making them a great choice for any team. |
| 229 | +Additionally, AI review tools often see problems that people might miss or not |
| 230 | +notice. |
| 231 | + |
| 232 | +So, does AI fix all your code review problems? Well, not each one, but it's an |
| 233 | +excellent start. The future is here, and it's knocking at your door. Time to let |
| 234 | +it in. And with that, we're done with this journey. May your code stay clean, |
| 235 | +your reviews be speedy, and your software launches be smooth. Here's to building |
| 236 | +a smarter and more efficient future! |
| 237 | + |
| 238 | +### Next Steps: How to save time and improve code quality with AI-Powered Code Reviews |
| 239 | + |
| 240 | +You've come quite a way, and you're probably feeling excited—or at least |
| 241 | +intrigued enough to take some action. So, what's the plan? Here's a simple |
| 242 | +checklist to help you start your journey with AI-powered code reviews: |
| 243 | + |
| 244 | +1. **Research Options**: Not all AI platforms are the same. Explore their |
| 245 | + features, limits, and costs. Of course, [CodeRabbit](https://coderabbit.ai) |
| 246 | + is a strong option, but go with what suits you. |
| 247 | + |
| 248 | +2. **Talk to Your Team**: Get input from your developers and reviewers. Knowing |
| 249 | + their challenges can guide you in picking the right tool. |
| 250 | + |
| 251 | +3. **Start small**: Begin with a limited scope or team. This helps you |
| 252 | + understand the impact of AI on your process. |
| 253 | + |
| 254 | +4. **Review results**: After the initial phase, check the results. Look at |
| 255 | + factors such as efficiency and quality to gauge its effectiveness. |
| 256 | + |
| 257 | +5. **Expand Gradually**: Happy with the results? Excellent! Now, introduce |
| 258 | + AI-powered code reviews to the whole team and make it a regular practice. |
| 259 | + |
| 260 | +6. **Stay Updated**: AI continues to evolve, and so should your approach. Keep |
| 261 | + up with new features and capabilities to keep improving your review process. |
| 262 | + |
| 263 | +This isn't just a temporary trend; it's a significant shift in how we view code |
| 264 | +quality and team efficiency. So take that leap and discover how AI can take your |
| 265 | +performance to the next level. |
| 266 | + |
| 267 | +With that, we conclude today's topic. If you have questions or thoughts, feel |
| 268 | +free to share them in the comments section. Let's continue the discussion there. |
| 269 | +Cheers! |
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