Evaluating Developer-Centric Code Review Practices and Their Influence on Software Quality, Onboarding Efficiency, and Team Knowledge Dissemination in Agile Teams

Abstract

In Agile software development environments, code review practices play a pivotal role in maintaining software quality, streamlining the onboarding of new developers, and facilitating knowledge sharing across teams. This study investigates the influence of developer-centric code review practices—those emphasizing peer interactions, contextualized feedback, and collaborative learning—on key software development outcomes. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach combining surveys, interviews, and code repository analysis, we explore how such practices contribute to team efficiency and product reliability. Our findings indicate that developer-centric reviews not only enhance defect detection and code maintainability but also serve as a critical mechanism for mentoring new team members and preserving institutional knowledge. The results suggest a growing need for structured, yet flexible, review protocols that align with Agile principles and the collaborative nature of modern software engineering teams