As one of my other hats, I am an indie author with 10 stories out across 2 pen names.

One of the ways that authors, especially newer authors grow in their craft is by participating in critique groups. Sometimes these are small, informal groups of a few authors who share their work in turn for the others to offer feedback. Sometimes, these are sites where authors earn credits by critiquing stories (or just plain buying them) and spending those credits to share their story for critique.

Writing critique groups offer many benefits for authors looking to improve their craft. These groups encourage regular writing and revision, helping writers build a consistent routine. By sharing their work with others, writers learn to separate their emotions from their writing. This is a key skill when dealing with feedback.

In these groups, writers get helpful comments on their work. They also learn from reading and critiquing other people’s stories. This back-and-forth helps everyone become better at giving and receiving feedback. For new writers, these groups provide a supportive place to start. They offer a sense of community and emotional support, which is important in the often lonely job of writing. Writers can also share news about writing contests, workshops, and new markets for their work. Over time, participating in a critique group can help writers rediscover their love for writing and overcome creative blocks.

And I was thinking, a writing critique and a code review aren’t such different beasts. On a fundamental level, they are the same thing. The major difference is that, at least from my understanding of them, code reviews are largely 1-on-1, one-way affairs, usually advice from a senior developer to a more junior developer in a workplace or a response to a pull request on an open source project.

But I don’t see any reason why there couldn’t be code review groups like there are writer’s critique groups. Why GitHub couldn’t offer features like Critique Circle or Scribophile has.

Reasons why code review groups should exist:

1. Discipline and Routine: Encourages regular coding and review, helping developers stay consistent in their practice.
2. Emotional Detachment: Helps developers learn to separate their emotions from their code, fostering a healthier approach to criticism.
3. Learning from Others: Offers lessons from the successes and failures of peers, enhancing collective knowledge.
4. Improving Review Skills: Enhances the ability to evaluate and articulate feedback on code, improving overall code quality.
5. Support for junior developers: Acts as an incubator for new developers, providing guidance and mentorship.
6. Coding Opportunities: Alerts members to hackathons, workshops, and classes, broadening their skillset.
7. Idea Inspiration: Sparks creative ideas through group discussions, leading to innovative solutions.
8. Industry News: Shares information about new tools, technologies, and trends in the industry.
9. Taking Criticism: Prepares developers for criticism from clients, users, and other developers.
10. Giving Criticism: Develops skills useful for code reviews and becoming a better collaborator.
11. Peripheral Proficiency: Prepares developers for other related tasks like documentation and testing.
12. Cost-Effective Skill Building: Strengthens coding skills without high costs, especially valuable for self-learners.
13. Overcoming Blocks: Helps developers overcome coding blocks by discussing problems and solutions with peers.
14. Networking: Facilitates connections with fellow developers, potentially leading to job referrals, collaborations on side projects, or valuable industry contacts.

The concept of code review groups represents a paradigm shift in how we approach collaborative learning and improvement in software development. While one-on-one code reviews are a backbone of the industry, they fall short of the full potential of peer learning. By expanding the idea to include group-based code reviews, we open up a new avenue of possibilities for learning and community building.

Developers, regardless of their experience level or employment status, could regularly come together in a supportive environment to share their code, exchange ideas, and collectively elevate their craft. These groups would extend beyond the limits of traditional workplace hierarchies and project-specific collaborations, creating a space where innovation and learning are the primary purpose.

And code review groups can be anything you want them to be. They could be formed around specific programming languages, frameworks, or problem domains. They could meet virtually or in person, synchronously or asynchronously, adapting to the diverse needs and preferences of their members.

Code review groups have the potential to address some of the most pressing challenges in the field. They can help combat the isolation often felt by remote workers or freelancers. They can provide a safety net for self-taught programmers who lack formal mentorship opportunities. They can even serve as incubators for new ideas and unconventional solutions that might never see the light of day in more traditional settings.

But for this vision to become a reality, we need to take action. We need to challenge our preconceptions about how learning and improvement happen in software development. We need to be willing to step outside our comfort zones, to share our work-in-progress code in ways beyond blog posts and YouTube videos with hashtag #LearnInPublic, and to engage in constructive dialogue about our craft.

The tools and platforms to support this shift already exist or could be easily adapted. What’s needed now is a change in mindset and a willingness to experiment. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a newcomer to the field, consider how you might contribute to or benefit from a code review group.

The question isn’t whether code review groups can work – it’s how quickly we can make them a standard part of our professional growth toolkit. The future of software development is collaborative, it’s community-driven, and it’s waiting for us to shape it.

Are you ready to be part of this change?