Walkthrough in Software Engineering

Introduction to Code Walkthrough

The Code Walkthrough technique embodies an informal method of analyzing code. Following the successful compilation of a module with all syntax errors eradicated, a group of individuals convenes to scrutinize the program code and address inquiries. In instances where the code's author cannot respond to certain queries, those questions are documented for subsequent resolution. Certain members of the development team receive the code in advance of the walkthrough session, enabling them to review and grasp its intricacies. Each participant selects specific test cases and manually simulates the code's execution. The central objectives of Code Walkthroughs are centered on identifying algorithmic and logical errors within the code.

Functioning of Code Walkthrough

A Code Walkthrough involves the document's author, who orchestrates the review process, leading participants through their thoughts and deliberations. The purpose is to foster mutual comprehension and gather feedback. This approach is particularly advantageous when individuals not well-versed in software development documents, such as those from unrelated fields, are present. The author meticulously explains the document's content step by step, ultimately arriving at conclusions for revisions or information gathering.

During a walkthrough, the bulk of the preparatory work is undertaken by the author. Participants from diverse departments and backgrounds, selected for their roles, need not extensively study the documents beforehand. The structured nature of the meeting facilitates the involvement of a substantial number of individuals, each offering a wide array of perspectives on the document's content. This inclusivity also serves an educational purpose. When the audience comprises individuals with varying skills and disciplines, it ensures that significant defects aren't overlooked during the code walkthrough. This approach proves particularly effective for higher-level documents such as required specifications and architectural records.

Objectives of Code Walkthrough

The specific objectives of a code walkthrough hinge on its purpose in document creation. Generally, the following objectives can be applied:

Engaging Stakeholders: Presenting the document to stakeholders, both within and beyond the realm of software, to gather insights pertinent to the document's subject matter.

Establishing Shared Understanding: Facilitating a mutual grasp of the document's content among all participants.

Exploration and Evaluation: Delving into and evaluating the contents of the document to assess their coherence and validity.

Validation of Solutions: Scrutinizing and discussing the validity of proposed solutions and the feasibility of alternatives to reach a consensus.

Guidelines for Conducting Code Walkthroughs

Optimal Team Size: The composition of the code walkthrough team should neither be overly expansive nor too limited. Ideally, it should comprise three to seven members.

Error-Centric Discussion: Discussions should be geared toward identifying errors, rather than delving into immediate rectifications.

Managerial Inclusion: To foster cooperation and alleviate potential evaluation apprehensions among engineers, it's recommended that managers abstain from participating in code walkthrough meetings.

Distinctive Traits of Code Walkthroughs

Author-Led Sessions: Code walkthrough meetings are orchestrated by the document's author or authors, occasionally aided by a designated scribe.

Validation Techniques: Content validation may involve the use of scenarios and dry runs.

Optional Pre-Meeting Preparation: The option for reviewers to engage in separate preparatory work prior to the meeting is available.

Advantages

Enumerated below are some of the advantages:

Diverse Perspectives: Walkthroughs bring forth a multitude of viewpoints.

Author-Guided Management: The code walkthrough meeting is overseen by the document's creator in collaboration with team members during the analysis phase.

Varied Session Formats: Sessions within walkthroughs, whether formal or informal, offer flexibility.

Empowerment Through Knowledge: The primary goal of code walkthroughs is to disseminate knowledge about the content within the document under review, bolstering team members' understanding.

Enhanced Awareness and Bug Detection: Code walkthroughs increase awareness of the document's content and facilitate bug discovery.

Disadvantages

Outlined below are some of the disadvantages:

Limited Completeness: The comprehensiveness of discussions is confined to areas where questions are posed by the team.

Lack of Diversity: In code walkthroughs, the author predominantly guides the process, resulting in a lack of diverse perspectives as others mainly clarify alignment between spoken explanations and actions taken.

Shallow Exploration: A drawback is that a lack of depth can be observed.

Time and Geographic Constraints: Meetings can become exceptionally time-consuming and complex to manage when participants are dispersed across multiple time zones.

Code Walkthrough Tools

Several tools designed for code walkthroughs are available. A selection of these tools is discussed in this section.

Review Board: This web-based tool facilitates code walkthroughs. Operating as an open-source solution, it accommodates pre-commit and post-commit code review based on specific requirements.

Crucible: Another commendable code walkthrough review tool, Crucible enables code review, change discussions, and bug identification across version control systems.

Collaborator: Yet another tool for code walkthrough reviews, Collaborator empowers team members to scrutinize code and design documents.

CodeScene: This tool surpasses traditional static code analysis by allowing users to delve into code review at a behavioral level. It engages in behavioral code analysis.