What is technical debt?
Technical debt is when development teams prioritize quick, short-term solutions over more sustainable ones during software development to meet immediate goals. Technical debt can speed up initial progress, but it often leads to additional work down the line, as the compromises made for speed might not align well with long-term quality and maintainability. Technical debt occurs often under the pressure of tight deadlines or resource constraints. Technical debt can manifest in several ways, such as using hard-coded values instead of configurable options, skipping writing tests, or opting for a simpler but less scalable architecture. The cost of fixing the issues at a later stage is typically much higher, not just in direct development time but also in potential harm to the user experience and company reputation.
For example, a tech team working on an app skips automated tests for new features so that the products can be launched in the market faster. However, this approach increases the risk of defects going unnoticed until they cause problems in production. The result of this is that technical debt can complicate future development efforts, making the software harder to adapt or scale. Hence, L&D teams need to manage technical debt carefully to ensure their projects remain adaptable and efficient over their entire life cycle.
Why technical debt happens
Technical debt can sneak up on tech teams for several reasons, each adding layers of complexity and future workload if not properly managed. Some common causes of technical debt are as follows:
Rushed timelines: Under the pressure of tight deadlines, dev teams may resort to quick fixes or shortcuts in the code. The “just make it work” approach can lead to the selection of technologies that are easy to implement in the short term but might not be the right choice for long-term sustainability.
Constantly changing code requirements: In this dynamic tech industry, code that was once suitable can quickly become obsolete or inadequate. Dev teams are under pressure to constantly adapt their code to new requirements, and these frequent changes without adequate refactoring lead to patches on top of patches. The technical debt can result in a codebase that is fragile and difficult to understand.
Lack of code standards: Without strict coding standards and regular code reviews, there can be inconsistencies in code quality and structure. This variation in code leads to significant challenges in maintenance and scalability. When dev teams skip steps like code reviews or automated testing to save time initially, this can result in a cluttered codebase, where bugs are more frequent and harder to diagnose and fix.
How technical debt shows up in practice
Technical debt affects everything from daily operations to long-term strategic goals. The impact of technical debt on tech teams can manifest in these ways:
Slowed development pace
Increased code bugs
Higher operational costs
Decreased developer morale
Slowed development pace
Technical debt acts like a speed bump for new developments, forcing dev teams to navigate around or refactor poorly structured code. This requires dev teams to put in extra effort which slows down the implementation of new features and also extends the time needed for testing and debugging, delaying the overall development cycle.
Increased code bugs
A codebase that contains a lot of patches, quick fixes, or outdated components is more prone to bugs and errors. When development teams operate under time constraints, they often resort to temporary solutions rather than long-term fixes. This practice can lead to a cluttered and unstable codebase that increases the risk of system failures.
Higher operational costs
Maintaining a system riddled with technical debt is inherently resource-intensive. Developers require more time to add new features and also maintain existing ones, which includes deciphering complex old code that might not be well documented. Additionally, dev teams will also need to prevent system outages and troubleshoot issues. This adds to the operational burden.
Decreased developer morale
Developers who constantly deal with the limitations of outdated or inefficient code as a result of technical debt often end up extremely demoralized. It is no surprise working in a code environment that is full of technical debt reduces job satisfaction and can lead to burnout. This is particularly true for talented developers who thrive on creativity and innovation but find themselves bogged down by technical limitations and repetitive troubleshooting tasks.
How to manage technical debt
It is important for dev teams to proactively manage technical debt to avoid its impact on overall productivity and efficiency during the development process. Five effective tips to handle technical debt are as follows:
Prioritize regular refactoring
Implement strong coding standards
Conduct thorough code reviews
Plan for debt reduction
Prioritize regular refactoring
Engineering managers should schedule regular sessions with individual members of the dev teams focusing solely on improving and cleaning up the code. This session should involve reorganizing the structure, improving readability, and optimizing processes within the software. By making refactoring a routine practice, engineering managers can ensure that the code remains easy to manage and modify.
Implement strong coding standards
Engineering managers should establish and enforce clear coding standards, including guidelines for writing clean, readable, and reusable code. When dev teams adhere to these standards, this practice helps prevent the accumulation of messy, hard-to-understand code that can slow development down later.
Conduct thorough code reviews
It is important for all dev teams to have code reviews as a staple of their development process. These reviews should catch potential errors and also ensure that all code aligns with the dev team’s standards and best practices. Regular peer reviews foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement which helps to mitigate the risk of technical debt.
Plan for debt reduction
The term “debt” might diminish the perceived seriousness of the issue. When people hear “technical debt,” they may not fully grasp the potential negative consequences it can have on a software project. Unlike financial debt, which clearly signals danger, technical debt can seem manageable or benign until the accumulated issues dramatically slow down development or cause major system failures. This is why it is vital for managers to allocate time and resources specifically for reducing technical debt. There should be a properly structured plan with proactive steps to manage technical debt before it escalates into a more severe problem.
Final word
Effective management of technical debt is crucial for maintaining software that is efficient and reliable. Managing technical debt isn’t just about fixing old problems, it’s also about setting up processes that prevent such issues from occurring in the first place. Managers should take a strategic approach about when and where to invest in developing solutions where the code is restructured and improved without changing its external behavior. They should also focus on maintaining a balance between perfect code and timely delivery.
Free Resources
