Code Review and Clean Code: Say Goodbye to Code Rewrites

How many times have you had to rewrite code from scratch because it was messy, broken, or simply impossible to maintain? This is a common issue in software development. Lack of organization often lead to unnecessarily complex code, resulting in rework, wasted time, and major headaches.

But what if there was a way to avoid all that? Get to know two fundamental concepts: Clean Code and Code Review. When properly applied, they help developers write cleaner code and significantly reduce the need for code rewrites.

At NextAge, efficiency is at the core of what we do, which is why we created this guide. Read on to learn more—your future self will appreciate! 

What is Clean Code?

Clean Code is a set of principles and best practices that ensure your code is readable, well-organized, and easy to maintain. The key idea is that just a code that “works” is not enough—it also needs to be understandable for other developers and even for your future self.

Writing clean code helps reduce errors, simplify maintenance, and speed up future implementations. After all, software is a long-term investment, and code quality directly impacts its evolution.

Principles of Clean Code

• Meaningful Names: A good variable, function, or class name should clearly describe its purpose. Instead of generic names like x or temp, use something like orderQuantity or activeUser.
• Small Functions: Each function should do just one thing and do it well. Long functions are harder to read and debug. Following the KISS (“Keep it Simple, Stupid”) principle, code should be easy to understand.
• Avoid Code Duplication: The DRY (“Don’t Repeat Yourself”) principle—created by Andy Hunt—means that if a piece of code exists somewhere, it shouldn’t be rewritten elsewhere.
• Only Necessary Comments: Even though comments are useful, they shouldn’t replace well-written code. Ideally, the code itself should be clear enough to explain what’s happening.

What is Code Review?

Code Review is the process of having other developers reviewing code before it’s merged into a project. The goal is to identify errors, improve code quality, and share knowledge within the team.

Even the best developers make mistakes. When someone else reviews your code, they’re likely to spot issues you might have missed and suggest improvements.

Benefits of Code Review

• Better Code Quality: Reviews help catch bugs and inconsistencies before they become bigger problems.
• Learning & Knowledge Sharing: Code Review is a great way to learn best practices and help developers grow.
• Standardization: Ensures the code follows established guidelines, making it more consistent and easier to read.
• Less Rework: Preventing issues is always better than fixing them later. A well-reviewed codebase avoids costly rewrites in the future.

Clean Code and Code Review: Say Goodbye to Code Rewrites

The main cause of code rewrites is a lack of organization. By writing clean code and ensuring it goes through regular reviews, many problems can be resolved before they turn into major headaches.

• Problem Prevention: Following Clean Code principles from the start prevents code from becoming messy and hard to maintain.
• Early Detection: Frequent code reviews allow teams to catch errors before they escalate.
• Easier Maintenance: A well-structured and reviewed codebase makes updates and improvements much smoother—without needing to rebuild everything from scratch.

Adopting these practices takes time, but they bring huge benefits to any development team.

Why This Matters

Implementing Clean Code and Code Review isn’t just about being meticulous—it’s a necessity to avoid rework and ensure the longevity of a project. Well-written and reviewed code saves time, improves collaboration, and results in more sustainable systems.

Having an experienced team that specializes in these methods is the first step toward a smooth and efficient software development process. At NextAge, we work to help your team stay productive and deliver high-quality code—always.