In this post, I’ll explain code review and explore popular code review tools that help organizations with the code review process.
In recent years, the significance of code review for producing high-performing software has been acknowledged. It is one of the most effective means of preventing security vulnerabilities and faults from entering production.
Similarly, the demand for efficient code review tools has increased. This article is a list of the top code review tools for developers.
[lwptoc]What Is the Code Review Process?
A code review process is a systematic way of discovering potential security vulnerabilities and bugs in software code. It entails thoroughly reviewing the source code by one or more programming and software development experts.
Why Is Code Review Important?
There are several reasons why code review is essential for developers:
- Ensures the codebase’s quality and prevents security flaws and defects early.
- Aids in identifying program flaws, potential vulnerabilities, and possibilities for improvement.
- Ensures that the code adheres to the industry’s best practices and coding standards.
- Aids in detecting and eliminating needless flaws.
- Facilitates coaching for young programmers.
- Assists in building a knowledge base about frequent errors and loopholes.
How to Perform a Code Review?
There are multiple techniques for Code Review. Here is a summary of three major code review methods:
Peer Review: In this procedure, the code is examined by a specialist in the same programming language as the original creator. The reviewer will read the code line by line and find any typographical or logical flaws, potential vulnerabilities, or enhancement opportunities.
Static Analysis: In this method, specialized tools are used to analyze the source code for flaws before executing the code. Code review duties can be automated with static analysis tools to ensure adherence to coding standards.
Dynamic Analysis: This method entails executing the software and testing it against known inputs and outputs to identify bugs or problems. Static analysis alone cannot reveal issues discovered by dynamic analysis. It is more than a mere review and can be considered a component of STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle).
What is a Code Review Tool?
A code review tool is a software app that streamlines, integrates, and automates the code review process for developers. It consists of a collection of static code review tools that can automate the activities associated with code review, such as checking for compliance with coding standards.
Why Should You Use Code Review Software?
There are multiple advantages of using code review software:
- First, streamline the code review process by automating its associated tasks.
- Facilitates code review integration into the software development process.
- Third, it offers engineers the ability to collaborate on code reviews.
- Finally, it brings openness and uniformity to the entire code review process.
- Facilitates optimization of the QA testing process
- Documents the complete code review process
Common Features of Code Reviewing Tools
The following are common features seen in leading code review tools:
- The capacity to organize code reviews according to several attributes, such as tags and pull requests.
- A system for notifying stakeholders when a change has been made.
- A commenting mechanism that enables stakeholders to submit feedback and recommendations.
- The app should support both text and binary files.
- Multiple version control systems, including Git, SVN, and Mercurial, are supported.
List of Top 8 Best Code Review Tools for Developers
We researched hundreds of code review software and chose the top ones based on their specialties, cost, usability, and feature sets.
1. Visual Expert
Lets talk about the best Code Review Tools for Code Quality Analysis (2022). Visual Expert is a static code analyzer that enables developers to inspect their code for potential security flaws, performance difficulties, and defects. It supports common programming languages such as Java and C++. Visual Expert also delivers a report detailing the analysis’s findings.
Visual Expert Features:
- Impact Analysis Tool
- CRUD operation reviewer
- PL/SQL code documentation
- Code Comparison Module
- Change effect validator
2. Gerrit
Gerrit is a web-based code review and collaboration tool that integrates with the Git version management system. It is written in Java and uses the interface provided by Google Web Toolkit. Gerrit simplifies the code review process by permitting developers to submit modifications to the code base, which can subsequently be reviewed and debated by other developers.
Gerrit Features:
- Internet Interface
- Git repositories with authorization
- Google web ToolKit Interface Framework is a lightweight framework that integrates with Git.
- Multiple Eclipse plugin extension support
3. Veracode
If we talk about the top-notch Code Review Software 2022, Veracode is a next-generation app security platform with a highly effective code reviewer module. It is particularly popular among Fintech developers because it includes many security-focused features that enhance app productivity.
Veracode Features:
- Analysis of app composition
- Code static analysis and review
- Comprehensive security report
- App Control Audit Security compliance management standards
4. Review Board
Review Board is a popular tool for reviewing codes, papers, PDFs, and images. It is among popular code review tools open source among programmers because it enables them to generate thousands of reports of various forms.
Review Board Features:
- Automatic evaluation
- Git repositories with authorization
- Integration with all mainstream IDEs
- Multiple extensible plugins for additional functionality
- Priority bug fixes and first builds
5. GitHub
Popular code hosting and reviewing site GitHub enables developers to cooperate and streamline the entire code development process. The whole team can track, manage, and monitor each step of the code review process using the commit history and pull requests.
GitHub Features:
- Pull request to purpose change.
- Version History timeline to track changes, pull requests, etc., with a side-by-side view of modified and preceding code.
- Identify view option
- Status verification and access control
- API with protected branches
6. CodeScene
It is among the best review tools for free in 2022. CodeScene is a versatile code analysis tool that integrates business, individuals, and code. It assists the engineering team in evaluating and prioritizing the entire codebase to decrease technical debt and ensure the highest quality before delivery.
CodeScene Features:
- Technical debt prioritization
- Comprehensively automated analyzing method Unlimited users.
- Version control data
- Project management tools
- Risk identification and prediction for delivery.
7. Azure DevOps
Microsoft’s Azure DevOps is a cloud-based code review tool. It enables developers to share code, monitor job progress, and cooperate as a group. Azure DevOps integrates with well-known source control systems, including Git, Bitbucket, and TFVC.
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Azure DevOps Features:
- Unlimited private Git repositories hosted on the cloud.
- Advanced File Management
- Tools for exploratory and manual testing.
- Problem and defect tracking
- Work item management
8. Rhodecode
Next in our list of the popular code quality tools is Rhodecode. It is a quick and effective open-source code management system that gives developers centralized control over all shared and distributed repositories. Its process automation, team collaboration, and permission control features are prevalent.
Rhodecode Features:
- Integrated management Interface
- Remote Repository Replication/Sync
- Effective text search capability
- Easy Access Management
- Visual Changelog and Graphlog
- Support for massive binary file sizes
- Identifying security vulnerabilities
FAQ
What are Common Code Review Approaches?
The most prevalent code review methods include manual, peer, and static code reviews using specialized software.
How to choose a code review tool?
Developers must select code review tools based on the code’s kind, language, hosting, requirements, team size, and project budget. RhodeCode and GitHub are the most comprehensive solutions for code review.
Why do people use custom code review tools?
People use bespoke code review tools to have all their code review tools in a single location, while others feel that specific tools are better suited for particular projects.
How can you improve your code review process using tools?
A code review tool that automates various review processes saves you time. It also helps the code review by efficiently identifying potential faults and bugs and enhancing team communication.
What are the two purposes of code review?
The primary objectives of code review are to identify flaws and enhance the quality of the code. Moreover, free code review tools save time and improve team communication.
What are java code review tools?
Java code review tools are a collection of apps that can examine Java source code. Popular Java code review tools Java include Gerrit, Collaborator, and Visual Expert.
What are Android code review tools?
Android code review tools are tools that can study the code of an Android app. Popular code review software include DroidLink, FindBugs, and Checkstyle.
What are source code review tools?
Source code quality is evaluated with the aid of code review tools. These technologies assist developers in identifying potential errors and defects, enhancing team communication, and saving time.
What is automated code review tools?
Automated code review tools test a code by executing predefined rules and inputs. RhodeCode and Crucible are both examples of automated code review tools.