In modern software development, automation plays a huge role. We rely on compilers, linters, static analyzers, test suites, and even AI-assisted tooling to keep our codebases healthy. These tools are indispensable and I’m a huge fan of automation as well — but they aren’t enough on their own.
Think about the process of integration new code into your codebase. Now you probably think about the CI pipeline which couldn’t even exist without automation. It is the automation itself.
But that’s just a part of it. Code reviews are need too. While there are AI-based tools helping with them, human insight is still irreplaceable. Code reviews are not just a box to tick before merging. Done well, they’re one of the most powerful practices for building both better code and stronger teams.
Here are four reasons why code reviews should be a core part of your development process.
It’s The Last Line of Defence
Think of code reviews as the final safeguard before new code becomes part of your system. All the automated checks in the world can only go so far — they enforce style, catch common errors, and run through test cases. But they lack human judgment.
A reviewer brings insight, context, and experience that tools don’t yet replicate. They might spot when code is technically correct but unnecessarily complex. Or they may catch when a design decision, while functional, doesn’t fit the long-term architecture.
In short: automation helps, and AI will help even more in the future. But — as Peter Muldoon said at CppCon 2025 — code reviews ensure the long-term sustainability of your codebase.
Educate Team Members
Every pull request is an opportunity to learn. Senior developers can use reviews to guide less experienced colleagues—explaining idiomatic patterns, internal APIs, and (general or project specific) architectural principles. Instead of abstract advice, this happens in the most practical way possible: directly in the context of real code.
For junior developers, this kind of feedback is invaluable. It turns a routine review into an ongoing mentoring process. Even experienced developers benefit: explaining reasoning, patterns, or alternatives often deepens their own understanding.
Code reviews are, in effect, micro coaching sessions embedded right into the development workflow.
Offer a Fresh Perspective
We all know the feeling: you stare at your own code for hours, and everything looks fine. But as the author, you carry assumptions that make you blind to certain issues. What seems obvious to you may be confusing or misleading to someone else.
Reviewers help break that tunnel vision. They can question assumptions, challenge design choices, and surface edge cases the author overlooked. Even if no major flaws are found, simply having to explain your reasoning often clarifies thinking.
Fresh eyes catch what the original author misses.
Leverage Diverse Insights
A team isn’t just a collection of interchangeable developers. People bring different strengths and experiences. A backend engineer might notice a performance issue in database access. A frontend specialist might highlight usability concerns. Someone with more experience in security might raise a subtle risk.
By combining these perspectives, code reviews become more than just correctness checks. They enhance quality by ensuring that multiple dimensions — maintainability, readability, security, performance — are considered.
The result: better code, shaped by diverse expertise.
Wrapping It Up
Each of these reasons points to the same conclusion: code reviews are more than a process step. They are a cultural practice that safeguards quality, spreads knowledge, broadens perspective, and strengthens collaboration.
Yes, they improve the code you ship. But more importantly, they help developers learn, teams grow closer, and organizations build a culture of excellence. Over time, this investment pays off not just in cleaner codebases, but in stronger, more capable coders working together to solve hard problems.