Formal Reviews
Formal reviews are structured, documented processes in software development where artifacts like code, designs, or requirements are systematically examined by a team to identify defects, ensure quality, and improve understanding. They involve predefined roles, procedures, and entry/exit criteria, often including inspections, walkthroughs, or technical reviews. This methodology aims to catch issues early, reduce rework, and foster collaboration among stakeholders.
Developers should use formal reviews in high-stakes projects, regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, finance), or when building critical systems to enhance reliability and compliance. They are particularly valuable during the design and coding phases to prevent bugs from propagating, improve code maintainability, and align team members on standards and requirements. Learning this skill helps in producing robust software and is often required in agile or waterfall environments for quality assurance.