Tech debt is bound to occur in a code especially when it becomes old enough. With age bugs and defects start creeping in the code and it becomes highly difficult to detect and identify them for fixing. This results in slow or no functioning of the code which further results in loss of time, money and effort. Such loss may silently strangulate your company with the least knowledge, and therefore, it is essential that you keep a check on your tech debt on a regular basis through your qualified and professional team of code developers. There should be a balance always maintained between the desire to release new codes fast and the desire of the tech team to practice safe and ethical software engineering practice.

Quality Produces Effects

The quality of the product will produce the relevant effect. If the quality is good, you will enjoy good results and vice versa. Therefore, good quality product designing is a crucial factor as it will give you cost effective, productive and timely results. If you maintain the balance between the desires between the sales and development team, it is easy to do so. A good quality product designed with sound engineering practice will give you an extensible as well as an easily maintainable product which will automatically reduce the rework on it in the future. Therefore, you should always choose long term effects over short term value delivery.

Know When It Exists    

Now, you may argue that you are hardly able to detect tech debt and do not know when and where to start from. Ask yourself two very simple question when you are in doubt. Do you think that you have tech debt in your feature? If the answer is ‘Yes’, then you probably have. If the answer is ‘No’, then it is likely that you will have later on. Therefore, it is always better to apply the motto usually associated with the doctors: “Prevention is better than cure” as it is the best remedy for accrual of debt. You should identify, prioritize and develop a strategic plan to eliminate it so that you are saved from any future problems.

The Value Derived

The value derived from the release of features in the market differs from team to team. The sales team may derive value from the new feature which will provide differentiation in the market. On the other hand, the operations and development team may derive value when they do not have to work frequently on managing patches. The marketing team derives primary value from the quality release of a feature which is predictable as well as delivers new capabilities.  

The Ultimate Goal

The ultimate goal for all should be associating the pieces of the code base with all the different constituencies and assign each of them with a specific value. You should have enough subjectivity and objectivity in the approach when you get everyone on the same page regarding value and cleanliness. You may come to know more benefits of a clean code if you click here and survive in the long run.