In today’s software-driven world, reliable and maintainable source code is the backbone of every project. Its quality determines whether it will meet explicit and silently assumed user expectations. However, this task goes well beyond the capacity and responsibility of individual developers or even entire software development teams. Software needs to be carefullyverified by independent, highly skilled professionals experienced in discovering flaws that could undermine the value delivered by projects.
Even in the advent of AI-based code reviewing tools, human intuition and expertise still have a decisive impact on the quality of software-based services.
Why are code reviews difficult?
Developers know the scenario well. After investing days or weeks into writing a feature, they frequently enter an endless review, rework, improvement, and verification cycle, which may easily spoil the clean initial design concept before the change can be handed over to end users. Several reasons account for that.
First, review concerns diverse characteristics that are vital for modern software. Meeting all of them at once is difficult. Second, it requires a different attitude than code development: a bold programmer must become a pedantic and inquisitive assessor, eager to judge their own work. Finally, it is arduous: the effective time needed to complete a review, address the findings, and implement recommendations could be comparable to the development, especially for less experienced reviewers. As a result, instead of being a natural step toward improvement, poorly organized and performed reviews can become obstacles that slow progress, create team tension, and add costly rework instead of value.
Code review done right
The good news is that effective code reviews are possible if they are based on discipline, standards, experience, and most importantly, independence. This could transform a review from a painful and costly process into a powerful quality assurance practice. The combination of automated tools and human experience-backed expertise could deliver an efficient and reliable process that reduces several types of costs.
Code review and testing services provided by GÉANT
To support this, the GÉANT (GN5-2) project via Work Package 9 has been maintaining a dedicated code review team. It provides standardized, customizable services for software teams within GN5-2, focused on verifying code security, maintainability, and reliability. The review results not only deliver a clear picture of the current code quality but also provide guidance for further improvement and hints on how to develop the GÉANT products effectively.
Currently, there are four main types of service:
- Assistance in automated review by SonarQube, which includes setting up, running, and interpreting results, helps teams manage quality in their own way. SonarQube continuously scans the project’s repository to detect potential and actual issues, presenting them through a variety of dashboards and reports.
- Manual code review, supported by results of SonarQube and Mend tools, creating a synergy of the automated and manual work of our experts, covering the majority of the mainstream programming languages and technologies.
- Composition analysis, to discover potential flaws and vulnerabilities in the third-party libraries used in the GÉANT products.
- License analysis, to verify possible inconsistencies and violations of licensed components used in the software.
All the services could be customized to the specific needs of software teams, as reflected in a client document agreed upon before starting the review.
Teams already using the services report faster review cycles, reduced rework, and improved code confidence. Instead of solving repetitive issues of minor importance, they can now spend more time planning and implementing high-value improvements.
It could also be your team. If you struggle with code quality and review, let us help.
- Learn more about our Source Code Review Services
- Explore how we can integrate SonarQube and Mend into your workflow.
- Contact the WP9 T2 Test & Analysis team to discuss how we can support your project, using the Software Review Page
For more information, reach out to Elisantilla Gaci at egaci@rash.al
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