Developer perceptions of modern code review processes in practice: Insights from a case study in a mid-sized company

Modern code review (MCR) is a practice in which code reviews are performed in a tool-supported, asynchronous and lightweight way. Previous studies show that MCR can lead to improved internal and external outcomes. Differently from many previous works, our aim is to provide insights regarding MCR practices from a developer-centric perspective in a mid-sized organization . We surveyed developers of a mid-sized Brazilian software company, using a survey instrument that both included validated items from the literature and novel items specific to our survey goals. We collected N = 73 responses in an initial survey phase and N = 29 responses in a follow-up phase. Our results provide insights in various dimensions regarding the opinion of developers on how an MCR process should be configured to be effective in an organization. In terms of managerial implications, our survey sheds light on the extrinsic and intrinsic motivations of developers to engage in MCR activities. The success of MCR depends both on having an appropriately configured process as well as the on support of managers in terms of making MCR benefits visible to stakeholders and appreciating review efforts. • We study developer perceptions of modern code review processes. • We identify which configuration of the process developers consider optimal to work. • Acknowledgment by other developers is found to be a key motivating factor. • The use of informal communication can lead to knowledge vaporization.