What do developers use to know if there are any problems in their code?

Quality gates are critical checkpoints in the development process that help ensure software quality by defining specific criteria that must be met before code can progress to the next stage. These criteria often include coding standards, testing coverage, and issues such as bugs or vulnerabilities. By implementing quality gates, developers can receive immediate feedback on their code, which allows them to identify and address any problems early in the development cycle. This proactive approach to quality management helps maintain high standards and minimizes the potential for defects in the final product.

While performance metrics can provide insights into how well code is performing, they do not directly highlight problems in the coding phase. Issue tracking systems focus on logging and managing bugs or features but rely on developers to report issues first. User feedback is valuable for understanding how end-users interact with the software, but it comes after the software has been deployed. Quality gates serve as the first line of defense against potential issues, making them the most effective tool for developers to identify and rectify problems in their code.