About the Presentation
The Testers’ Secret Weapon – Code Reviews
Session Speech
Discover a hidden superpower possessed by test professionals that often goes overlooked—the ability to influence the quality of code. While some organizations already involve test engineers in peer reviews, coding skills are not a prerequisite for adding value during this phase. In fact, I have personally witnessed the significant impact that engaging in code reviews can have on software quality right from the start.
During this talk, I will share my experience from multiple companies, illustrating how test professionals can make a meaningful contribution to code reviews and elevate the overall quality of software. You will learn how testers can bring value to the process through tasks like codifying procedures, asking clarifying questions, validating requirements, addressing testability concerns, and identifying anti-patterns that could hinder maintainability over time. The emergence of generative AI technologies recently will undoubtedly have an impact on this critical activity, but it cannot eliminate this process and you will learn that – when properly applied – how AI can be a powerful collaborator.
Key topics covered in this talk include:
- Establishing an Effective Process:
* Strategies for setting up rules that gain buy-in from the entire team
* Conducting peer reviews using an example guideline with dos and don’ts
* Real-world case study from my time at Sun Microsystems, where we created a comprehensive code review template that initially seemed complex but ultimately led to higher-quality code and earned respect from the QA team.
- Conducting a Successful Code Review:
* Actions testers with and without coding skills can take to contribute effectively
* Essential questions to ask during code reviews
* Identifying common anti-patterns and assessing quality aspects like maintainability, testability, architectural smells, and component coupling
* Leveraging the help of code assistants
* Making informed decisions about third-party library selection and usage
* Insights from my experience as the Director of Quality at ESO Solutions, where we established code review guidelines involving both testers and developers, resulting in reduced unplanned work.
- The Social Dynamics of Code Reviews:
* Facilitating knowledge sharing within the team
* Promoting cross-functional learning between testers and developers
* Techniques for providing constructive criticism without offending authors
* Optimizing the effectiveness of code reviews through in-person, pairing, and asynchronous methods, depending on the context
* Real-world examples from my current role at a startup, highlighting how I successfully engaged the entire team, influenced stakeholders, and fostered a more productive, collaborative, cohesive, and trusting team environment.
Join me in this enlightening session to uncover the superpower of test professionals and learn how you can transform code reviews into a catalyst for improved software quality and team synergy.
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