Code reviews are a critical step in software development. They help improve code quality, encourage knowledge sharing, and reduce the chance of defects reaching production. But without the right tools and process, reviews can become a bottleneck—delaying releases and introducing inconsistencies in feedback.

Bitbucket, Atlassian’s Git-based code management tool, provides a structured environment to manage code reviews with clarity and consistency. Integrated with Jira, it offers developers a straightforward way to collaborate on code changes while keeping projects on track.

In this blog, we’ll explore how Bitbucket helps teams manage code reviews efficiently—from pull request creation to approvals and merge strategies. Whether you’re building enterprise software or small-scale applications, Bitbucket offers capabilities that support cleaner workflows, better communication, and continuous improvement.

Why Code Reviews Matter

Before diving into tools and features, let’s revisit the “why” behind code reviews. These peer reviews aren’t just about catching bugs—they’re also about improving understanding and fostering team alignment.

Key goals of code reviews:

• Improve code quality: Spot issues before they escalate.

• Share knowledge: Encourage developers to learn from one another.

• Ensure consistency: Align implementations with style guides and design patterns.

• Encourage collaboration: Create a feedback culture that values improvement over perfection.

But how a team manages the review process can vary significantly depending on the tool in use.

Bitbucket’s Approach to Code Reviews

Bitbucket’s pull request (PR) system offers a straightforward workflow for proposing, reviewing, and merging code changes. It integrates tightly with Jira, Confluence, and other Atlassian products, which adds context and traceability to every review.

Here’s how Bitbucket makes reviews more manageable:

1. Pull Request Creation with Context

Developers initiate reviews by creating a pull request that summarizes the changes they want to merge. Bitbucket allows users to:

• Compare source and destination branches.

• Add descriptions and link Jira issues.

• Tag reviewers.

• Set merge strategies.

This initial setup is more than a formality. Clear PR descriptions and linked Jira issues help reviewers understand the why behind the changes—not just the what.

Tip: Use templates for pull request descriptions to ensure consistency across teams. This encourages submitters to explain their decisions, outline test coverage, and flag areas of concern upfront.

2. Reviewers and Reviewer Groups

Assigning the right reviewers ensures code is reviewed thoroughly and fairly. Bitbucket allows users to:

• Assign specific team members manually.

• Use default reviewers for particular branches or repositories.

• Group reviewers into teams.

You can also configure merge checks to require approval from certain team members before changes are allowed to merge.

Example: A repository with security-critical code might require at least one approval from the security team before a PR can be merged.

This flexibility ensures the right people see the right changes—without overwhelming developers with irrelevant reviews.

3. In-line Comments and Suggestions

Reviewers can comment directly on specific lines of code. This targeted feedback keeps conversations focused and relevant.

Bitbucket also supports:

• Threaded discussions, making it easy to follow the context.

• Task lists, which reviewers can use to request changes before approval.

• Suggested changes, where reviewers can provide alternative code snippets right inside the comment.

These tools make reviews more actionable. Developers know exactly what needs to be addressed, and reviewers can easily revisit previous feedback before re-approving.

4. Automated Checks and Integrations

Bitbucket integrates with CI/CD tools like Bitbucket Pipelines, Bamboo, or Jenkins. You can set up automated checks to run tests, enforce linting rules, or validate deployment configurations as part of your pull request workflow.

With merge checks, Bitbucket can enforce the following before allowing a PR to be merged:

• A minimum number of approvals.

• No outstanding tasks or failed builds.

• Jira issues linked to the PR.

• No open discussions.

This helps enforce standards and minimizes human error—ensuring that only reviewed and validated code is allowed into shared branches.

5. Branch Permissions and Merge Strategies

Bitbucket supports fine-grained branch permissions. You can:

• Restrict who can write or merge to protected branches.

• Define merge strategies (e.g., squash, rebase, fast-forward).

• Prevent force pushes or deletion of key branches.

This reduces risk in larger teams or high-stakes projects where multiple developers work in parallel.

Teams can also define branching models that align with their development lifecycle (e.g., Git Flow or trunk-based development). Bitbucket’s interface helps guide contributors to use the correct naming and workflow patterns automatically.

6. Audit Logs and Reporting

Visibility is crucial—especially in enterprise environments. Bitbucket includes audit logs to track:

• Who reviewed or approved what.

• When pull requests were merged.

• What changes were made post-review.

In regulated industries like finance or healthcare, these logs support internal audits and help demonstrate code review compliance.

Best Practices for Effective Code Reviews in Bitbucket

1. Timebox Reviews

Don’t let pull requests sit idle. Establish expectations around review timelines—ideally within 24 hours. Bitbucket’s notification and @mention features help keep things moving.

2. Limit Pull Request Size

Smaller, focused pull requests are easier to review. Bitbucket allows branching strategies that support incremental development, reducing reviewer fatigue and encouraging better feedback.

3. Use Labels and Metadata

Use labels or PR tags to indicate the type of change: bug fix, new feature, refactor, etc. This helps reviewers frame their evaluation based on the kind of work being submitted.

4. Review Beyond Syntax

Encourage reviewers to think about design, performance, security, and usability—not just whether the code compiles. Bitbucket’s inline discussion tools help keep those conversations organized.

5. Track Metrics and Improve

Keep an eye on review throughput and quality. Are reviews happening consistently? Are bugs slipping through after approval? Use Bitbucket Insights and Jira metrics to evaluate and refine your review process.

Bitbucket and Jira: Better Together

When used with Jira, Bitbucket allows even tighter alignment between code and the larger project context.

For example:

• You can automatically transition Jira issues based on pull request actions (e.g., move a ticket to “In Review” when a PR is opened).

• Developers can view Jira tickets linked to the code they’re reviewing—making it easier to understand the intent behind the change.

• Product managers and QA teams can see the development status of their backlog items, all from within Jira.

This connection closes the loop between development and planning, helping teams avoid miscommunication and missed deadlines.

Final Thoughts

Code reviews aren’t just about finding bugs—they’re about building better software through collaboration. Bitbucket helps teams structure that collaboration in a way that feels manageable, consistent, and productive.

From pull request creation to merge protection and automation, Bitbucket offers the tools teams need to handle reviews with confidence and clarity. And when paired with Jira, it provides the end-to-end traceability and coordination that fast-moving software teams depend on.

Whether you’re part of a lean startup or a large enterprise, organizing your code review workflow in Bitbucket helps keep projects on track, feedback actionable, and developers aligned.

📧 Contact us at sales@clovity.com or visit 🌐 atlassian.clovity.com to get started today.