Code Review Is NOT For Catching Bugs

In this follow-up video, we dive deeper into the true purpose of code review, challenging the misconception that its main goal is to catch bugs. Instead, we emphasize how code review plays a central role in shaping team culture, accountability, and knowledge sharing.

Key Takeaways:

• We see code review as a cultural engine: It’s a key mechanism for how our team communicates, transfers norms, and builds a shared understanding of quality and standards.
• We’ve learned that code reviews aren’t about bug-hunting: Studies—including from Microsoft Research—show that code reviews are not effective at finding bugs, even with multiple reviewers or approval layers.
• We hold ourselves accountable for our code: The responsibility for quality and testing lies with the author—not the reviewer. Code review isn’t a safety net for catching functionality issues.
• We avoid over-reviewing: Adding more layers of review slows us down without meaningfully reducing bugs. Instead, we focus on meaningful reviews that support learning and alignment.
• We use code reviews for knowledge and culture transfer: Through thoughtful feedback and shared context, we reinforce how we build, think, and collaborate—making code review a vital part of team growth.