The Art of Code Reviews: How I Learned to Grow Beyond My Ego

Code reviews can be the most humbling and transformative experiences in a developer's life. When I first joined a team as a junior developer, I had only a surface-level understanding of the concept. To me, it seemed like an opportunity to show off my mastery over elegant code or, conversely, an invitation to shield myself from any potential criticism. I had little understanding that a code review wasn't just about pointing out inefficiencies—it was about fostering collaboration and pushing everyone, including myself, toward growth.

In my early days, code reviews felt harsh. I would submit my work, and then anxiously refresh my inbox to see comments from my peers. At first, it stung to see my code torn apart, and I took the feedback personally. I remember one instance when my boss left a lengthy comment on my pull request, explaining how my implementation had created unintended side effects across different parts of our system. His words were polite but firm—he was right, and the mistake I had made was a fundamental oversight.

# My initial implementation

def process_data(data):
    result = []
    for item in data:
        if validate(item):
            process_item(item)  # This function had unintended side effects
            result.append(item)
    return result

# Feedback: The process_item function was modifying shared state, which caused issues in other parts of the system.

That particular comment made me feel like I had failed not only myself but my team. I withdrew during the next few days, avoiding eye contact with my boss and giving clipped responses to my colleagues. I thought they saw me as a liability. The next code review session approached, and I was filled with dread.

One day, my colleague Sam noticed my behavior and pulled me aside. He explained how he had made similar mistakes early on—often worse, he admitted with a grin. "The point," he said, "is that the code review isn't about proving you're the smartest person in the room. It's about making sure we all succeed together." He encouraged me to view every comment as an opportunity, rather than an evaluation of my skills. Sam's words truly shifted my mindset.

My perspective on code reviews evolved, and I decided to embrace vulnerability. The next time I received feedback, I didn’t shy away from my mistakes. I started responding to comments, asking clarifying questions, and actively contributing to others’ pull requests. This openness worked wonders. Not only did I feel myself becoming a better developer, but my relationships within the team began to flourish. Instead of dreading code reviews, I began to see them as opportunities to have insightful conversations with my boss and my colleagues.

I experienced a particularly sweet moment during a big project. I had proposed a new architecture to solve a problem that had plagued our system for weeks. It was different, unproven, and risky. The review comments were full of questions and doubts, but instead of becoming defensive, I used the feedback to iterate on the solution. When it was finally approved, my boss sent me a simple message: "Nice work. This will make a real difference."

# Improved implementation after feedback

def process_data(data):
    result = []
    for item in data:
        if validate(item):
            item = process_item_safely(item)  # Updated to avoid side effects
            result.append(item)
    return result

def process_item_safely(item):
    # A safer version of process_item that doesn't modify shared state
    new_item = item.copy()
    # Processing logic here
    return new_item

That message meant the world to me, because it wasn’t just about the technical proposal—it was recognition of how much I'd grown in terms of collaboration and maturity. Code reviews taught me to detach my ego from my work and be receptive to others’ perspectives. They made me a better programmer, a better communicator, and most importantly, a better teammate.

My advice? Don’t fear feedback. Don’t let your ego overshadow your potential for growth. Embrace the scrutiny, even when it’s uncomfortable. You’ll be surprised at how much you learn—and how the experience deepens your professional relationships, creating bonds built on shared growth and learning.

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