I work in an academic department, too, and have also seen the lack of discipline that you mention.

I have had some luck encouraging code review using two methods. First, I ask some folks to look at my code and comment. Often they will do so, and in turn feel more comfortable in asking me to do so. It helps to first put your ego on the line before asking others to do the same.

The second approach is to note that part of the scientific method is reproducibility, so programs should be made publically available along with the papers. Then code review becomes just another part of the peer review process and prevents public shame in distributing buggy, sloppy code.

This has only worked with three people in my dept., but we have a nucleus of code quality that at times really helps my own work.

-Mark

In reply to Re: Advocacy of code reviews: how the heck do you do it? by kvale
in thread Advocacy of code reviews: how the heck do you do it? by FoxtrotUniform

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