Implementing code review in the scientific workflow: insights from ecology and evolutionary biology

Ivimey-Cook, E. R. et al. (2023) Implementing code review in the scientific workflow: insights from ecology and evolutionary biology. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 36(10), pp. 1347-1356. (doi: 10.1111/jeb.14230) (PMID:37812156)

Abstract

Code review increases reliability and improves reproducibility of research. As such, code review is an inevitable step in software development and is common in fields such as computer science. However, despite its importance, code review is noticeably lacking in ecology and evolutionary biology. This is problematic as it facilitates the propagation of coding errors and a reduction in reproducibility and reliability of published results. To address this, we provide a detailed commentary on how to effectively review code, how to set up your project to enable this form of review and detail its possible implementation at several stages throughout the research process. This guide serves as a primer for code review, and adoption of the principles and advice here will go a long way in promoting more open, reliable, and transparent ecology and evolutionary biology.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was partially funded by the Center of Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), which is financed by Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and by the Saxon Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK) with tax funds on the basis of the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ivimey-Cook, Dr Edward
• Authors: Ivimey-Cook, E. R., Pick, J. L., Bairos-Novak, K. R., Culina, A., Gould, E., Grainger, M., Marshall, B. M., Moreau, D., Paquet, M., Royauté, R., Sánchez-Tójar, A., Silva, I., and Windecker, S. M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Journal of Evolutionary Biology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1010-061X
• ISSN (Online): 1420-9101
• Published Online: 09 October 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Evolutionary Biology 36(10):1347-1356
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License