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Managing Technical Debt: A Strategy for CTOs and Development Managers
In the dynamic world of software development, technical debt is an inevitable part of the process. However, it’s crucial to understand and manage this debt effectively. Here’s how I approach it:
Identification and Documentation: First, we identify areas of technical debt in our codebase and document them meticulously. This process involves regular code reviews and leveraging tools that flag potential issues. Technical debt is ok; it’s a natural part of what we do, but it’s only ok if we know what we have, where it is and the cost.
Prioritisation: Not all technical debt is equal. I prioritise based on factors like impact on system performance, security vulnerabilities, and the cost of future changes. I also take into account whether the debt will naturally be paid back in future planned iterations, thereby avoiding the ‘double hit’.
Incorporate into Planning: We integrate the repayment of technical debt into our development cycles. This might mean allocating a certain percentage of each sprint to address these issues. A key KPI that I always present in my board packs is the current ‘overdraft’. It’s an important measure for the board, and helps reassure them that I have a clear handle on it. Paying it down, and being able to accurately report that then provides additional assurance.
Balance with New Features: It’s essential to strike a balance between adding new features and paying down debt. I ensure that technical debt doesn’t hinder our ability to innovate and respond to market needs, and often take the decision to go further overdrawn if it provides a quick and meaningful commercial opportunity to the business.
Foster a Culture of Quality: Encouraging a mindset that values quality code and understands the long-term impact of technical debt is key. Regular training and discussions about best practices are part of our culture. I often find that my teams don’t really understand or to some extent care about the debt; that’s my problem. But, I ensure that they do become more aware and understand the implications and how we can all work together as a team to make sensible decisions. I always use the ‘direct debit’ example with them. Just one more £100 direct debit, quickly adds up and before you know it you are bleeding money that you didn’t plan for. I ask them how many know what their bank balance it, and it’s generally the case that they are all ;on it’. It’s the same with technical debt, and our team overdraft.
Continuous Monitoring: Technical debt is monitored continuously. We use metrics and dashboards to keep track of our progress in reducing debt.
By proactively managing technical debt, we maintain a healthy codebase, ensuring our team’s efforts contribute to sustainable and scalable software solutions.