15 ways to manage technical debt as a software developer

Sometimes, you might get thrown into a project that has a lot of technical debt, such as bad code, missing documentation, lack of testing etc. One way to handle this situtation is to move on to another project, but if you decide to deal with the technical debt yourself, here are some ways to do so:

1. Communicate with stakeholders

Discuss the current situation with project stakeholders (e.g., management, users, other developers) and make them aware of the risks and consequences associated with technical debt, lack of documentation, and insufficient testing. This will help align expectations and potentially secure additional resources or support.

2. Identify high-priority areas

Analyze the codebase and identify the most critical components, areas with the highest technical debt, and parts of the system that are most prone to failure. Prioritize these for refactoring, testing, and documentation.

3. Create a plan

Develop a plan to address the identified issues, breaking it down into manageable tasks. Estimate the time required for each task, and schedule them in a way that balances the need for new features, bug fixes, and paying down technical debt.

4. Improve documentation

Start documenting the system, focusing on high-priority areas first. Create a structure for documentation, including READMEs, wikis, and code comments, that is easy to maintain and understand. Make sure to keep the documentation updated as you modify the codebase.

5. Implement automated testing

Start writing automated tests for critical components of the system, with an emphasis on unit tests and integration tests. This will help you catch issues earlier in the development process and reduce the risk of introducing new bugs when making changes.

6. Refactor code

Gradually refactor the codebase, focusing on high-priority areas first. Aim for clean, modular, and maintainable code. Follow established coding standards and best practices. Make small, incremental changes to minimize the risk of introducing new bugs.

7. Implement version control

If not already in place, establish a version control system (e.g., Git) to track changes to the codebase, allowing you to collaborate with others more effectively, maintain a history of changes, and revert to previous versions if needed.

8. Introduce code reviews

Implement a code review process to ensure that any changes to the codebase are reviewed by at least one other person. This helps maintain code quality, spread knowledge, and catch potential issues early.

9. Continuous integration (CI)

Set up a CI system system to automatically build and test the software when changes are made. This will help you catch issues early and streamline the development process.

10. Seek additional help

If the workload is too much for a single developer, discuss the possibility of hiring additional developers or working with external consultants to share the workload and improve the project’s overall quality.

11. Regular progress updates

Keep stakeholders informed of your progress, challenges, and successes. This will help maintain their support and understanding as you work to address the project’s technical debt and other issues.

12. Continuous improvement

Continuously evaluate the state of the project and adjust your plan as needed. Learn from your experiences and iterate on your processes to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. Keep up-to-date with industry best practices and apply them to your project as appropriate.

13. Create a knowledge-sharing culture

Encourage a culture of knowledge sharing within the team (if other developers are added) or with any external consultants. This can include regular meetings, code walkthroughs, and documentation updates. This will help spread the understanding of the system and reduce the reliance on any single individual.

14. Time management

It’s crucial to manage your time effectively. Allocate specific time slots for different tasks, such as addressing technical debt, writing tests, creating documentation, and working on new features. This will help you maintain a balance between all responsibilities.

15. Training and education

Invest time in learning and keeping up with new technologies, tools, and techniques relevant to your project. This knowledge can be applied to improve the project’s quality, efficiency, and maintainability.