Do Design Reviews

Problem: Code reviews center mostly on issues of design, rather than the code itself.

Forces:

• Code reviews are being done to ensure correctness.
• The reviewers cannot review for correctness because they do not understand or agree with the design.
• Modifying the design means throwing away a lot of the work put in by the developer.

Resolution:

• Perform Design reviews before any code is written.
• Involve code reviewers to get input/buy in on design

Comments:

The design reviews may not have the same level of formality as FormalReviewProcess. This encourages EarlyAndOften reviews. CampFire may be appropriate for the early stages.

-- FriedrichKnauss

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In order that the review will reflect ProjectSpecific? details rather than ReviewerPreferences?, it is a GoodThing to have an established basis of design with which the reviewer can make comparisons and which can serve as a controllingAuthority. One of the ways this can be done is by Formalization of the Design via designSpecifications:

• http://www.construx.com/survivalguide/desspec.htm