Thanks to digital emergence, all companies around the globe are now dependent on software, programs, and other such digital solutions. This implies that all the companies have some or the other sort of programming and coding to monitor and take care of. Therefore, it becomes important to have a tool that can help you check these codes and programs to see if everything is alright or not.
Such tools are known as code review tools. These tools, also known as static code analysis tools, are essential for the development of a company. As you know, technologies need to be continuously checked and upgraded to avoid being obsolete and keep progressing. These tools are the perfect aid for that cause.
Therefore, in today’s article, we will review the best free and open-source code review tools that are out there. You can select the best tool for your use and never worry about the technological development and progress of your company.
Table of Contents
What are code review tools? How do they work?
As mentioned earlier, code review tools are digital aids that can help you detect any issues with the coding and programming of your digital solutions and software. It does so by running a check on the entire coding and detecting bugs and errors that may cause a problem in the system.
There are quite a few ways to review code and run a check on the various programs, of which we have mentioned the most prominent ones here. Let us read about it and understand how the deal is done.
Pair programming
Pair programming is the method of pairing up two coders and having them work on the same coding. As a result, both of them can check the other’s work as they make progress. However, this method is best for personal coding, training, and mentoring. Otherwise, it may lack objectivity.
Email thread
An email thread method for code review is the process of completing a piece of coding and sending it over to respective colleagues through email threads to have them reviewed. It is certainly more advantageous than having a few coders cooped up in one room to get the job done. However, too many opinions can make the job difficult to complete.
Assisted by tools
This is the one where code review tools become helpful. Code reviewing was not always so easy, but a very arduous job. However, with time and evolution, it has become more convenient, and one of the reasons is code review tools. These aids have made reviewing codes infinitely easier, with various other features.
Over the shoulder
The ‘Over the Shoulder’ method is just as it sounds like — getting the help of your colleague to review your code for you. After you have completed your code, simply ask your colleague to go through your coding while you explain the reasons why you constructed it the way you did. However, this may not be the best method as it can take time and is susceptible to errors.
So, these are the common ways of getting code reviewed. Yet, of them all, code reviewing through the tool is the best and the most reliable method. It is time and effort-saving and leaves less space for errors.
It is also a very convenient and more accepted way of reviewing. Code reviewing was not the easiest process earlier but due to technological advancements and accomplishments, code review tools have made the job infinitely easier.
7 best free and open-source code review tools
Now that we have understood what code review tools are and how they are done, we will now move on to the main topic — the top free and open-source code review tools that you can use for your company.
We will be discussing what these tools are about, their features, and how they can benefit you. These are some of the best tools on this list, so take a look and go with the tool that suits your needs the most.
1. Gerrit
This web-based open-source code review tool is very popular and widely used. Its easy-to-use interface allows users to keep track of all the adjustments made. It also has a great provision where you may check these mentioned adjustments before you approve them. All these are made easy with the option of comments and notes.
Gerrit has the following features –
- Allows easy integration with Git
- Has the provision of management for a repository for Git
- It allows detailed conversion on detailed parts of the code in question
- Allows easy fix for all types of compilation error
- Manageable version history
- Two level gates before a code is approved
- Allows thorough control of access
2. Rhodecode
When you think of easy management of code, Rhodecode is the name that you should be thinking of. This open-source code review tool provides a well-protected interface for code reviewing while offering powerful integration features. It is open-source and also has a premium version that you may opt for.
Its features include –
- Automated workflow for enhanced collaboration options
- Seamless collaboration opportunities for efficient code reviewing
- Helps integrate existing codebase with new tools for issue tracking
- Has a secure environment for code reviewing
- Offers online editing and previewing
- Offers a centralized platform for better user management
3. SmartBear
SmartBear has an amazing automated software known as Collaborator that can get your code quality reviewed as quickly as possible. Also, this automated code review tool supports a whole lot of systems, including Git, TFS, CVS, Perforce. This tool revolves around the ideology of getting things done quickly so that you can get your answers.
Its features include –
- Building templates for custom reviewing
- Reporting and improving processes
- Tracking and handling errors
- Good collaboration options for software artifacts and documents
4. CodeBrag
Probably one of the best on this list, CodeBrag is something to brag about. It is free, easy to use, and very lightweight. It may be used for reviewing lines and comments, blocking code, smart notifications through emails, and so much more.
Here are the prominent features of CodeBrag –
- Easy tracking of tasks through lists and agendas
- Centralized management and regulation of likes and comments
- Allows local installation of full IDE
- Extremely simple to install and run
- Offers perfect navigation through the keyboard
5. Review Board
This one is an easy-to-use yet powerful open-source code review tool that you can rely on without a moment of hesitation. With a clean interface, Review Board is easy to learn and has facilities like leaving comments and diff. With GitHub forks of 396 and 1.2k GitHub stars, it is perfect for simple yet powerful code reviewing.
It has features such as –
- Has high readable options due to syntax highlight options
- Easily integrates with major other programs, including Plastic, CVS, ClearCase, and many more
- Provides reviews for both pre and post commits
- It is self-hosted
- Allows reviews with multiple comments
- Provides remotely extensive API
- Provides queue that is unified and has detailed info
6. CodeStriker
This open-source code review tool is perfect for getting rid of all those paper works to provide you with a clean and clear interface so that you can perform your inspection without any confusion. It supports traditional diffs and documents and allows seamless reviewing. What’s more, you can easily leave notes, make comments, and record issues in any target database with this tool.
Its features include –
- Allows recording of code inspection naturally as a part of the procedure
- Has good integration features that allow seamless integration with various other tools
- Supports all browsers and can be easily run on all platforms
- Provides a metric subsystem that is highly configurable
7. Reviewable
Lastly, we have Reviewable on this list which is the best in overall delivery and display. It has a very neat interface with advanced features to help you carry out complex activities. From comparing different diffs, installing specialized logics, and many more, Reviewable allows you to do all that with ease.
The following are the prominent features of Reviewable –
- Makes way for minimal administrative work
- Allows smooth and advanced integrations
- Allows you to manage line comments on file revisions till they are resolved
- Highlights syntax to improve the quality of the code
- Allows commenting in batch
- Has modern UI implementations
Things to keep in mind while choosing a code review tool
While we have already given you plenty of options for your potential code review tool, it is not good to blindly trust and take your decisions. Therefore, here we have listed a few things that you should keep in mind while looking for the right type of code review tool for your business –
- Budget
Always consider your budget. As in this article, we have talked about open-source tools; some tools are paid or have a free version and premium feature. Until and unless you are sure you need the premium features, try to use the free tools. Even if you want the premium version, make sure you stay within your budget.
- Look for the features
Always take a look at the features that they are offering. You do not want a tool that does not allow you a few options and features. Therefore, make sure you have a good idea about the features it will provide before deciding on a tool.
- The reputation of the tool
Check the reputation of the tool. How many users does it have, and what kind of feedback do they have? Following these trails will help you understand whether the tool is worth spending time on.
- Customer service
Also, take a look at the customer service that these tools provide. This type of customer service can make or break your experience.
Conclusion
So that is all there is to know about free code review tools. In this article, we learned what it is, how it works and also discussed some of the top code review tools out there in the market. For any future reference, feel free to come back and take a look at this article again.
For more such detailed articles on various top software, check out SaaSworthy blog.
Also read:
• Top Static Code Analysis Tools to Try in 2021
• 5 Best Business Intelligence Software for Mac: A Comprehensive Guide
