How do you manage technical debt and legacy code?

4 Document the code

The fourth step to managing technical debt and legacy code is to document the code to explain its purpose, logic, and usage. Documentation is important to communicate the intent and design of the code to other developers, users, or stakeholders. You can use different forms of documentation, such as comments, docstrings, or external documents, depending on the audience and purpose of the documentation. You can also use tools such as documentation generators, style guides, or templates to standardize and automate the documentation process. By documenting the code, you can increase the readability, understandability, and usability of the code, and reduce the ambiguity and confusion of the code.

5 Review the code

The fifth step to managing technical debt and legacy code is to review the code to detect and correct any issues or defects in the code. Code review is the process of examining the code by yourself or by other developers to identify and improve the quality, functionality, and style of the code. You can use methods such as self-review, peer review, or formal review, depending on the complexity and criticality of the code. You can also use tools such as code review platforms, checklists, or feedback systems to support and streamline the code review process. By reviewing the code, you can increase the accuracy, consistency, and compliance of the code, and prevent or fix any bugs or errors in the code.

6 Maintain the code

The sixth step to managing technical debt and legacy code is to maintain the code to keep it up to date, relevant, and functional. Maintenance is the process of modifying the code to adapt to changing requirements, environments, or technologies. You can use practices such as continuous integration, continuous delivery, or continuous deployment to automate and monitor the maintenance process. You can also use tools such as version control systems, configuration management tools, or deployment tools to manage and track the changes and updates of the code. By maintaining the code, you can ensure that the code meets the current and future needs and expectations of your project and your users.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?