The Ten Commandments of Egoless Programming

  • Understand and accept that you will make mistakes
  • You are not your code. Remember that the entire point of a review is to find problems, and problems will be found. Don't take it personally when one is uncovered.
  • No matter how much "karate" you know, someone else will always know more.
  • Don't rewrite code without consultation. There's a fine line between "fixing code" and "rewriting code." Know the difference, and pursue stylistic changes within the framework of a code review, not as a lone enforcer.
  • Treat people who know less than you with respect, deference, and patience.
  • The only constant in the world is change.
  • The only true authority stems from knowledge, not from position.
  • Fight for what you believe, but gracefully accept defeat.
  • Don't be "the guy in the room."
  • Critique code instead of people – be kind to the coder, not to the code.