Meeting C++ 2025 - Code Reviews: Building Better Code and Stronger Teams

Sandor Dargo

On Day 1 at 16:00 (CET/Berlin) in Track A [Saphir Room and online]

Code reviews! Most consider it an indispensable element of modern software development. Yet, it's a surprisingly polarizing topic, with a significant crowd claiming that code reviews are a waste of time or even harmful. The reality is that most of us spend a non-negligable part of our workday reviewing pull requests. But how often do we pause to ask: Why are we doing this? And how can we do it better?

This talk begins by exploring the value of code reviews and addressing the major counter arguments. We’ll delve into the various approaches: synchronous vs. asynchronous, pre-merge vs. post-merge, one-on-one vs. group discussions.

No matter the format, code reviews can be a rich source for conflict. We, developers, often feel a sense of ownership over the code we write, and critique — no matter how constructive — often hurts. Worse, poorly phrased comments can erode team dynamics and damage relationships for good.

We must talk about what how to write code review comments that improve not only the code but also team dynamics. Both what and how we communicate matter. You’ll leave this talk with practical patterns and communication techniques to make your reviews more constructive, empathetic, and educative.

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