# Crossing the Line (Code Review) > [!faq] Acknowledgement > Those that knew me earliest in my career would call me a liar, to them I say I'm sorry, and eternally grateful for reviewing my mega-patches; it's a testament to your thorough reviews that we didn't break anything too severe! People are busy, they've got deadlines, meetings and not everyone enjoys doing code review or just out right can't be bothered. Convincing people to review your code can sometimes feel like herding cats; a Sisyphean task best avoided if possible. Here's my pragmatic approach to getting things across the line: * **Small Atomic Patches:** No-one wants to wade through a wall of text, [[Software Engineering/Progressive Coding|create atomic patches]] that do one thing, clearly. Small patches are quick to review and can be fit between meetings or without disrupting the reviewer's own flow. * **Preempt the Criticism:** Anticipate questions and concerns before they arise. Leave comments explaining your reasoning, particularly for any decisions that might seem subjective or ambiguous. You're not begging for approval, you're providing context; clarity is your friend. * **Embrace Objectivity:** When it comes to functionality, stick to the facts. Does the code work? Is it efficient? Does it have a bug? Gracefully handle subjectivity, balancing placation, with progress[^1]. * **Don't Expect Enlightenment:** People are flawed, they might miss things, offer unhelpful suggestions, or even disagree with logical choices. Accept these realities and move on, don't get involved; your goal isn't to convert them, it's to get the code reviewed. * **Return the Favour:** Practice what you preach, you're working as a team so there's no sense in stalling progress for others; it's in the benefit of all, to provide quick (re-)reviews. While code review can often feel like a hurdle, it doesn't have to be; it could mean your not setting yourself up for success. Be cynical in your expectations, stoical with your actions and the process can be ~~relatively~~ painless. [^1]: Defer to your seniors in matters of subjectivity, but hold your own on objective grounds.