Atlassian's Bitbucket Cloud now allows users to explicitly mark files in pull requests as reviewed, improving focus and efficiency during code review sessions.
- Files can be marked as viewed and collapsed to keep focus on pending reviews.
- The system remembers reviewed file states across sessions and resets when changes occur.
- A progress bar shows overall review completion for pull requests.
What happened
Bitbucket Cloud has released a new feature allowing code reviewers to mark individual files within a pull request as reviewed. When a file is marked as viewed, it collapses automatically, helping reviewers focus on remaining files that need attention. This state is saved between sessions so users can pick up where they left off without losing track.
Additionally, if new commits modify a previously reviewed file, the system automatically resets its reviewed status to prompt a re-examination. This feature is complemented by a progress bar at the top of the pull request that reflects how much of the review is complete, providing a clear visual indicator of review progress.
Why it matters
Code reviews are critical to software quality but can become overwhelming when many files are involved or multiple iterations occur. By marking files as reviewed and collapsing them, Bitbucket helps reduce cognitive overload, allowing users to focus on files that truly need their input.
The automatic reset of reviewed status upon new commits ensures that no changes go unnoticed, reducing errors and increasing confidence in the review process. The progress bar also supports efficient review management by showing reviewers and team leads how close a review is to completion, facilitating smoother collaboration.
What to watch next
Following the launch of this feature, Bitbucket users and teams should monitor how it impacts review times and quality. Collecting feedback from the community can reveal additional needs, such as integration with AI-assisted tools or enhanced filtering capabilities in reviews.
Atlassian's roadmap includes other improvements like iterative reviews and support for attaching diverse file types to pull requests, further enhancing the developer experience. Staying informed on these developments will help teams leverage Bitbucket’s evolving feature set to streamline their workflows.