# Nitpicking in code reviews wastes time

DevFeed: [Nitpicking in code reviews wastes time](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/nitpicking-in-code-reviews-wastes-time-38401.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.danlew.net/2026/09/01/nitpicking-in-code-reviews-wastes-time/>)

Author: Dan Lew

Published: 2026-09-01T13:00:13Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Dan Lew Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/dan-lew-blog.md>)

Topics: [Code](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code.md>), [code productivity](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code-productivity.md>), [Software Engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/software-engineering.md>), [Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/development.md>)

Tags: [bugs](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/bugs.md>), [code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code.md>), [code-reviews](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code-reviews.md>), [development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/development.md>), [features](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/features.md>), [problems](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/problems.md>), [refactor](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/refactor.md>), [software-development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/software-development.md>), [time](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/time.md>)

## AI overview

An opinion article argues that nitpicking minor issues in code reviews wastes time. Small problems usually have limited impact, may never cause trouble, and can often be fixed later, so review effort should prioritize major problems, bugs, and features.

## Source excerpt

I once wrote about how I've stopped nit-picking in code reviews, which improved the signal-to-noise ratio and helped everyone get along better. I'm back with a third reason to ditch the practice: nit-picking wastes time. By definition, nitpicks are about minor problems: