Managing Technical Debt in Agile Environments

When we work on products, especially in DevOps teams, we often have to make quick decisions about what features to include in the software. These decisions, made in the rush to get things done, can lead to what's called "technical debt."

Technical debt happens when we prioritise speed over everything else, like quality or long-term sustainability. It's like taking a shortcut that might save time now but could cause problems later on. Sometimes it's necessary to meet deadlines, but it's important to find a balance between quick fixes and doing things right the first time.

In this article, we'll talk about what technical debt is, how to handle quick decisions during development, and give examples to help you understand how to avoid future issues.

So, what exactly is technical debt? It's the extra work you'll have to do later because you chose the fastest solution instead of the best one. The term was coined by software developer Ward Cunningham in 1992, but it's still relevant today.

Usually, technical debt happens when teams rush to write code to add new features to their software. It might help them meet deadlines, but it can also cause problems down the line if not managed properly. Once you've taken on technical debt, it's not always easy to avoid the consequences.

Causes of Tech Debt

Prudent and deliberate: Opting for swift shipping and deferring consequences signifies deliberate debt. This approach is favoured when the product's significance is relatively low, and the benefits of quick delivery outweigh potential risks.

Reckless and deliberate: Despite knowing how to craft superior code, prioritising rapid delivery over quality leads to reckless and deliberate debt.

Prudent and inadvertent: Prudent and inadvertent debt occurs when there's a commitment to producing top-tier code, but a superior solution is discovered post-implementation.

Reckless and inadvertent: Reckless and inadvertent debt arises when a team strives for excellence in code without possessing the necessary expertise. Often, the team remains unaware of the mistakes they're making.

Given these different causes for tech debts, lets try to understand the types of tech debts. These can be broadly categorised under three main heads

Types of Tech Debts:

Code Related Debts:

• Code Debt: This is the most prevalent form of debt, stemming from issues inherent within the codebase itself. It encompasses poor coding practices, a lack of standardisation, inadequate code comments, and the utilisation of outdated or inefficient coding techniques. Code debt serves as a significant hindrance to code maintenance and scalability.
• Testing Debt: This arises when there is a deficiency in comprehensive testing practices, including the absence of thorough unit tests, integration tests, and adequate test coverage. Such debt heightens the risk of defects and bugs surfacing in production, potentially leading to system failures and customer discontent.
• Documentation Debt: This manifests when documentation is either insufficient or outdated. It poses challenges for both new and existing team members in comprehending the system and the rationale behind certain decisions, thereby impeding efficiency in maintenance and development efforts.

Architecture Debt:

• Design Debt: This emerges from flawed or outdated software architecture or design choices. It encompasses overly intricate designs, improper utilisation of patterns, and a lack of modularity. Design debt presents obstacles to scalability and the seamless incorporation of new features.
• Infrastructure Debt: This is linked to the operational environment of the software, encompassing issues such as outdated servers, inadequate deployment practices, or the absence of comprehensive disaster recovery plans. Infrastructure debt can result in performance bottlenecks and increased periods of downtime.
• Dependency Debt: This arises from reliance on outdated or unsupported third-party libraries, frameworks, or tools. Such dependency exposes the software to potential security vulnerabilities and integration complexities.

People/Management Debt:

• Process Debt: This pertains to inefficient or outdated development processes and methodologies. It encompasses poor communication practices, a deficiency in agile methodologies adoption, and a lack of robust collaboration tools. In addition to this, there is the issue of not automating the process, which greatly increases the agility of the software delivery.
• People/Technical Skills Debt: This a when the team lacks essential skills or knowledge, resulting in the implementation of suboptimal solutions. Investment in training and development initiatives can serve to mitigate this form of debt.

Managing and Prioritising the tech debt

Technical debt is something that happens when teams are developing products in aglie way. It's like borrowing against the future by taking shortcuts now. But if the team knows about this debt and has a plan to deal with it later, it can actually help prioritize tasks.

Whether the debt was intentional or not, it's important for the team to address it as soon as possible. One way to do this is by sorting the tasks related to technical debt during a backlog refinement session.

Here's how you can categorise these tasks:

1. Do It Right Away: These are tasks that are crucial for keeping the product running smoothly.
2. A Worthy Investment: These tasks contribute to the long-term health of the product, like upgrading outdated systems.
3. Quick and Easy Wins: These are small tasks that can be fixed easily. They're great for new team members to learn about the product.
4. Not Worth Considering: Sometimes, the problem might solve itself or it might not be worth the time and effort to fix, especially if you're planning to upgrade or retire a system.

When working on new products and facing deadlines, it's easy to overlook the technical debts that accumulate. But if left unchecked, these debts can lead to problems in the long run. Balancing the need for quick solutions with the importance of long-term stability is key.

While fast delivery and continuous improvement are central to agile development, it's important to be mindful of the technical debts that accrue along the way. Managing technical debt effectively can help ensure the success of your projects in the long term.