Code reviews are a critical part of the software development process. They ensure code quality, maintainability, and adherence to best practices. But beyond the technical aspects, they play a significant role in shaping team culture and morale.
A bad code review can discourage developers, create tension, and slow down progress. In contrast, a constructive code review fosters learning, collaboration, and innovation. A study published in the Journal of Software: Evolution and Process found a correlation between toxic comments in code reviews and decreased code quality, suggesting that negative interactions can adversely affect team performance ( Wiley Online Library, accessed 14.02.2025).
Let’s explore the worst types of toxic code review comments—and how to replace them with feedback that actually helps.
Toxic Code Review Comments: What Not to Say
Some comments don’t just criticize the code—they demoralize the developer. Here are some of the worst offenders:
1. The Dismissive Comment
- “This makes no sense.”
- “Why would you do it this way?”
- “This is completely wrong.”
🔥 Why It’s Bad:
- It offers no guidance on what’s wrong.
- It shames the developer instead of helping them improve.
- It creates a defensive environment where developers feel hesitant to contribute.
✅ Better Alternative:
✔ “I’m having trouble understanding this part—can you walk me through your thought process?”
✔ “Could we simplify this logic by…?”
✔ “This approach has some challenges—what if we tried…?”
2. The Command Without Explanation
❌ “Rewrite this entire thing.”
❌ “Refactor this.”
❌ “Use X instead of Y.”
🔥 Why It’s Bad:
- It gives no context or reasoning.
- The developer doesn’t learn why the change is needed.
- It feels like an order, not a discussion.
✅ Better Alternative:
✔ “This section could be improved for readability—what do you think about refactoring it to…?”
✔ “I suggest using X instead of Y because it improves performance in this case.”
✔ “Our team standard is to use X here—here’s why it’s beneficial.”
3. The Personal Attack
❌ “What were you thinking?”
❌ “Did you even test this?”
❌ “This is terrible.”
🔥 Why It’s Bad:
- It makes the developer feel personally attacked.
- It assumes incompetence instead of encouraging learning.
- It breeds resentment rather than teamwork.
✅ Better Alternative:
✔ “I noticed an issue when testing this—could we debug it together?”
✔ “There’s a potential edge case here—how do you think we should handle it?”
✔ “Would love to hear your reasoning for this approach—curious if there’s an alternative.”
4. The Unhelpful Nitpick
❌ “I don’t like this variable name.”
❌ “You should always use X style.”
❌ “Change this semicolon placement.”
🔥 Why It’s Bad:
- It focuses on personal preferences rather than meaningful improvements.
- It wastes time on trivial matters instead of real issues.
- It frustrates developers who have already followed the coding guidelines.
✅ Better Alternative:
✔ “Would a more descriptive variable name improve clarity here?”
✔ “Our team convention is to use X—let’s stick with that for consistency.”
✔ “I noticed this style is different from the rest of the code—should we align it?”
5. The “This Is How We Do It” Blocker
❌ “This isn’t how we do things here.”
❌ “We’ve always done it this way.”
❌ “Just follow the old pattern.”
🔥 Why It’s Bad:
- It shuts down innovation and discourages new ideas.
- It assumes the current way is always the best way (which isn’t always true).
- It stifles learning and discussion.
✅ Better Alternative:
✔ “We typically do X, but I’m open to discussing if this approach has benefits.”
✔ “How does this compare to our usual pattern—do we gain any advantages?”
✔ “Would love to understand your reasoning—maybe we can improve our process.”
How to Give Constructive Feedback
A great code review should help developers improve and foster team collaboration. The best comments:
✅ Ask questions instead of making demands.
✅ Explain reasoning behind suggestions.
✅ Encourage discussion rather than shutting it down.
✅ Assume good intent and offer help.
Instead of tearing down a developer, guide them toward a better solution.
Why This Matters: The Bigger Picture
Code reviews shape more than just the codebase—they shape team culture.
Toxic Code Reviews Lead To:
❌ Developers feeling discouraged and undervalued
❌ Lower engagement and motivation
❌ Slower progress due to fear of criticism
❌ A toxic work environment where people hesitate to contribute
Constructive Code Reviews Lead To:
✅ Better collaboration and learning
✅ Developers improving their skills over time
✅ Higher job satisfaction and team morale
✅ A culture where people feel safe to share ideas
Code reviews aren’t about proving who’s the smartest—they’re about making the entire team better.
Key Takeaways
🚀 Your tone sets the culture.
📚 Code reviews should teach, not tear down.
🔍 There’s rarely one “right” way—be open to discussion.
👀 Your comments impact the entire team.
🌍 Respect different perspectives and backgrounds.
Next time you review a teammate’s code, ask yourself:
- Am I explaining my suggestion clearly?
- Would I appreciate receiving this comment?
- Is this helping the developer grow, or just criticizing?
A great development team isn’t built by tearing others down—it’s built by lifting each other up. Dr. Michael Abrashoff, former commander of the USS Benfold, discusses in his article "Build Up Your People" how strengthening and supporting team members leads to better performance and morale. Similarly, Teresa Carey, in her article "Developing Your Team: Do You Lead By Building Up or Tearing Down?", emphasizes that leaders who focus on amplifying their team’s strengths create more effective and motivated teams, while those who diminish contributions lower productivity and engagement. By focusing on supporting, guiding, and uplifting team members, development teams can foster collaboration, innovation, and a positive work culture, ultimately building a stronger and more resilient team.