Definition
Technical debt, also called code liability or tech debt, refers to shortcuts used when developing software. While these trade-offs provide instant gains, they can incur long-term costs. As the code’s obligations grow, it becomes more difficult to fix these problems.
Furthermore, design inadequacies hinder robustness and scalability. To guarantee the software’s durability, developers should assign time to settle this outstanding balance. Failure to handle the issue causes it to become a rising liability that impedes innovation.
Examples of Technical Debt
- Legacy systems: Most organizations stick to obsolete systems, which prevent them from taking advantage of the latest features and cause compatibility issues.
- Quick fixes: Developers use rash patches to bugs without addressing underlying causes. Such sloppiness results in breakable solutions and potential code burdens.
- Skipped documentation: Neglecting appropriate documentation may lead to a steep learning curve for newbies, accumulating to the design liability.
- Avoiding updates: By deferring software updates, companies expose their systems to weaknesses and miss out on optimization chances, amassing tech liabilities.
- Inconsistent coding standards: Diverse coding practices within a team result in disjointed program structures, which in turn lead to increased maintenance costs.
