The true cost of tech debt

Hey there!

If you're part of the world of software development or leading a tech team, you've probably heard the term "technical debt." It's like that drawer everyone has at home—the one you throw everything into, promising to sort it out later. But in tech, this drawer can get really cluttered, really fast, and cleaning it up is a whole different ball game.

The Essence of Technical Debt

So, what exactly is technical debt? Picture this: You're working on a project, and there's a quick-and-dirty way to get something done versus a cleaner, more time-consuming approach. You choose the fast lane, telling yourself you'll come back to tidy up later. That "later" fix you owe is your technical debt.

Tech debt is not always bad; in some ways, using it can actually be beneficial. I am not against using technical debt, I am against ignoring it.

Just like financial debt, tech debt accumulates interest—in the form of extra work down the line.

Objective: Why This Matters

Technical debt can trap anyone, from coders to CTOs, and it can impact everything, from development speed to the quality of the product.

In this article, we peel back the layers of technical debt, showing you not just the what and the why, but the how—how you can manage it without letting it manage you.

• Impact: Tech debt increases costs, affects team morale, and customer trust.
• Underestimation: Short-term focus may overlook long-term risks of tech debt.
• Costs: Early tech debt resolution prevents innovation and staff turnover issues.
• Reduction Methods: Culture, updates, automation, record-keeping, balance of innovation and upkeep can mitigate tech debt.
• Leadership's Role: Leaders should favor long-term quality over quick solutions.
• Learning: Regular education and discussions on tech debt are important.
• Proactivity: Early action and strategies prevent tech debt accumulation.

Anatomy of Technical Debt

Where Does It Come From?

Technical debt can sneak up in various ways. Sometimes, it's deliberate—you make a conscious decision to take a shortcut for immediate gains. Other times, it's inadvertent, stemming from outdated knowledge, unexpected project twists, or evolving requirements.

Understanding the technical debt origins is the first step in managing it effectively.

Not all technical debt is created equal.

There's the obvious kind, like messy code that needs refactoring, but it also lurks in less obvious places. Think outdated documentation, overcomplicated architectures, or that "temporary" fix in your infrastructure that's now become permanent.

Taking Its Measure

Measuring technical debt can feel like trying to nail jelly to a wall. But fear not—there are ways to quantify it, from code complexity metrics to tracking the time spent on maintenance versus innovation.

You can start to make informed decisions about where to focus your cleanup efforts after putting a number to it.

The Ripple Effects of Technical Debt

Alright, let's go into how technical debt effects ripple through projects, teams, and even the end-users who enjoy the fruits of our coding.

On Productivity and Efficiency

Imagine you're in a race, but instead of running on a clear track, you're hurdling over obstacles. That's what working on a codebase riddled with technical debt feels like.

Every new feature or bug fix becomes a marathon. It's not just about writing new code; it's about navigating through a maze of quick fixes and workarounds that made sense at the moment but now slow you down.

As a result, projects take longer, deadlines are missed, and everyone's working late again. Not fun.

Customer Experience and Retention

Here's the deal: your users couldn't care less about how elegant your code is.

But they do care when your app crashes during checkout or loads as fast as a snail racing uphill.

Technical debt can lead to unreliable services and a clunky user experience, making your users question if sticking with your product is worth the hassle.

That's a risk you can't afford to take.

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The true cost of tech debt - by Bogdan Veliscu - 5 April 2024 - Watch Video

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