This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Buggato
In any web project, there comes a point when changes need to hit production, whether it’s a new feature, a bug fix, or a maintenance tweak.
Writing code that works is one thing. Writing code that’s clear, maintainable, and aligned with team standards is another.
That’s where Pull Request Reviews come in. Done well, they boost product quality and help the team grow.
What a PR Review is
A PR Review isn’t just about pointing out mistakes. It’s a chance to:
- Show the changes you’ve made
- Explain why you made them
- Get feedback against shared quality standards
It serves two purposes:
- Increase code quality before deployment
- Share knowledge across the team
How We Made PR Reviews Work for Us
Over time, we’ve shaped a process that keeps quality high without killing development speed.
1⃣ Slicing: Smaller PRs, Faster Reviews
We used to have PRs touching 60+ files, painful to review and easy to delay.
Now we slice features into small, releasable parts.
If the full feature has a fixed release date, we still ship slices behind a Feature Flag, hidden in production until we flip the switch.
This way, we practice continuous delivery with frequent, low-risk deploys.
Clear scope is key, so we involve PMs and POs early. On average, we keep PRs under 25–30 files. The smaller, the better.
Pro tip: We use GitHub Draft PRs as an early check; if a change is unnecessary, it gets reverted before review.
2⃣ Sync vs Async Reviews
Not all PRs are created equal:
- Sync: Live meeting + quick visual demo. Ideal for big changes or new features.
- Async: Review anytime, no meeting needed. Ideal for bug fixes and small refactors.
3⃣ Automating with Slack
A simple script sends PR review lists to Slack.
For Sync reviews, it also includes:
- The assigned (random) reviewer
- The meeting link
We set two Sync days a week to keep things predictable.
4⃣ How Sync Reviews Happen
- The whole team joins
- The developer walks through changes while the reviewer checks the PR
- Feedback is added as comments
- The merge is blocked until two members approve
It’s a built-in quality gate and prevents risky shortcuts.
Final Thoughts
Yes, PR reviews slow things down, especially in a startup where speed feels critical. However, once a project matures, they’re no longer a bottleneck.
They’re an investment: fewer bugs, higher quality, better knowledge sharing.
Today, we wouldn’t ship without them.
How do PR Reviews work for you? Let’s discuss it 
!
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Buggato