🖥️ Backend Code Quest
Embark on a journey through the inner workings of our systems! Let’s review our recent backend engineering adventures, swapping stories of smooth deployments, gnarly bugs, and hidden optimizations as we level up our codebase together.
Template Columns
🚦 Initiating Endpoints
Suggest new practices, tools, or APIs that we should start implementing in our backend adventure.
Base column: Start🛑 Debugging Deadlocks
Identify processes, habits, or code patterns we should stop to prevent bottlenecks and bugs.
Base column: Stop🔄 Code Flow Momentum
Highlight effective backend practices and team habits we should keep flowing.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
Backend Code Quest is a themed retrospective for backend engineering teams to explore what practices to start, stop, and continue to improve code quality and team performance.
When to use this template
Use this format after a backend project milestone, a significant release, or when the team wants to focus on process and technical improvements in backend work.
How to facilitate
Welcome the team and set the context by briefly explaining the Backend Code Quest theme and goals
Share the three columns: Initiating Endpoints (Start), Debugging Deadlocks (Stop), and Code Flow Momentum (Continue)
Invite participants to reflect individually and add notes under each column based on recent backend experiences
Review submissions as a group, clustering similar items and discussing their impact or relevance
Facilitate a focused discussion on the most critical items in each column to draw out stories, lessons, and actionable insights
Vote on which identified actions or changes the team should prioritize for the next sprint or cycle
Summarize key agreements and assign owners to ensure follow-up on action items
Close by celebrating backend wins and highlighting insights to carry forward
Pro Tips
Ask team members to prepare beforehand by gathering deployment stats or bug examples to enrich the discussion
Encourage sharing not only technical improvements but also communication and workflow tips relevant to backend collaboration
Use real stories from recent incidents or successful releases to drive engagement and practical learning
Keep the session focused on backend-specific topics to maximize relevancy and outcomes
FAQ
What if some team members are new to the backend codebase?
Encourage newer members to share fresh perspectives and questions, as these can highlight unclear areas and spark useful improvements.
How do we ensure action items are followed up after the session?
Assign clear owners and deadlines for each action during the retrospective, and revisit progress during your next team check-in or standup.
What if discussion gets sidetracked by frontend or unrelated topics?
Gently guide conversation back to backend themes and note unrelated items separately for future consideration.
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective