Email Based Review
Email Based Review is a software development methodology where code reviews, feedback, and approvals are conducted asynchronously via email, rather than through real-time meetings or integrated tools. It involves developers sharing code changes, patches, or documents as email attachments or inline text, with reviewers responding with comments, suggestions, or approvals in reply emails. This approach is often used in open-source projects, distributed teams, or legacy workflows to facilitate collaboration without requiring synchronous communication.
Developers should learn or use Email Based Review when working in environments with distributed teams across different time zones, where real-time collaboration is impractical, or in open-source projects that rely on mailing lists for community contributions. It is particularly useful for maintaining a transparent, archived record of discussions and decisions, as emails provide a searchable history. However, it can be less efficient than modern code review tools for large or complex changes due to manual handling and lack of automation.