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When discussing software quality, it's essential to differentiate between internal and external quality. Internal quality refers to characteristics observed by developers, such as maintainability, testability, and readability. These aspects are crucial for the long-term health and efficiency of the software. On the other hand, external quality is what users experience, including usability, performance, and correctness. Both types of quality are vital, but they serve different purposes. In this blog post we want to focus on internal quality – or to be more precise on technical debt and software erosion.
Technical Debt vs. Software Erosion
The Metaphor of Software Erosion
The concept of software erosion suggests a natural decay process. While software doesn't physically erode, it can degrade in quality over time if not properly maintained. This metaphor highlights the gradual decline in software functionality and performance due to continuous changes and updates. Unlike physical objects, software remains unchanged if left untouched. However, to keep it relevant and functional, developers must make modifications, which can introduce complexities and reduce internal quality if not managed carefully.
Technical Debt: A Conscious Compromise
Technical debt on the other hand is a concept that emphasizes the deliberate choice to prioritize short-term gains over long-term quality. Developers might take shortcuts due to time constraints or other pressures, fully aware that these decisions will incur costs later. This "debt" must be "repaid" through future refactoring and maintenance efforts. Whether the decline in internal quality is intentional or not, the consequences are the same: increased development time, higher defect rates, and potentially, the need to rewrite the software entirely.
Real-World Implications
The Impact of Continuous Changes to Code
As developers add new features and make revisions, the quality of the software can suffer. For instance, repeatedly adding lines to a class can eventually turn it into a large, unwieldy codebase. This phenomenon is not linear; more complex code tends to lead to even more complexity. This cycle of increasing complexity can occur unnoticed, making it harder to maintain and extend the software over time.
Empirical studies have shown that lower internal quality has significant real-world impacts. Developers require more time to implement changes, and these changes are more likely to introduce defects. If the software becomes too complex, it may no longer be economical to maintain, leading to its abandonment. From a corporate perspective, this inefficiency affects productivity, go-to-market time, revenue, and customer satisfaction. The cost of maintaining and scaling systems increases as visibility into the codebase decreases, ultimately leading to financial losses.
Balancing Resources and Quality
In the commercial realm, balancing resources is crucial. Companies must weigh the cost of developer hours against the benefits of new features and the revenue they generate. Investing in tools that enhance quality and compliance is essential. The goal is to find the right balance between delivering new features and maintaining high software quality to ensure long-term sustainability and profitability.
Identifying and Handling Technical Debt
Recognizing technical debt early is vital. Studies have found that internal quality issues often exist from the moment a file is first checked into a version control system. Without active measures, these issues worsen over time. Developers and project managers will notice the effects through increased effort and more defects. Regular program inspections and code reviews can help identify signs of software erosion, but these processes are labor-intensive.
Automating Detection and Mitigation
Automating the detection of software erosion through static analysis can significantly reduce the burden on developers. This includes gathering software metrics, identifying code smells, and detecting potential programming bugs. Integrating these tools into a continuous integration process ensures ongoing monitoring and maintenance of high software quality. However, human oversight is still necessary for tasks that require judgment and context, such as evaluating the adequacy of comments or the appropriateness of solutions.
Managing Legacy Code
Addressing technical debt in legacy code can be particularly challenging. Legacy systems often come with their own set of complexities, including outdated architectures and dependencies that are not well understood. The key to managing legacy code is to prioritize visibility and incremental improvements. Start by making the existing codebase as visible as possible, using tools to map out dependencies and identify critical areas that need attention. Prioritize fixes based on their impact and feasibility to avoid overwhelming developers with an unmanageable list of issues.
The Role of Management
From a management perspective, dealing with technical debt and software erosion is challenging because it doesn't directly contribute to new features or marketable aspects of a product. However, neglecting technical debt can hinder the development of new features and damage the product's reputation. Efficiently managing technical debt involves prioritizing the most critical issues and providing developers with the tools and insights they need to address them without becoming overwhelmed.
Ensuring that developers have the right training and resources is crucial for minimizing technical debt. Regular training sessions on best practices, coding standards, and the use of static analysis tools can significantly enhance the team's ability to maintain high software quality. Additionally, tracking the issues that cause the most problems for developers can help in tailoring training programs to address these specific areas.
An incremental and integrated approach to managing technical debt is often the most effective. By integrating static analysis and other quality checks into the continuous integration process, organizations can ensure that new issues are detected and addressed promptly. This approach reduces the overall workload and prevents the accumulation of technical debt, allowing developers to focus more on delivering new features.
The Economic Impact of Technical Debt
From a business perspective, technical debt has significant economic implications. It affects productivity, time-to-market, and ultimately, revenue. By investing in tools and processes that help manage technical debt, organizations can improve their efficiency and competitiveness. The cost of addressing technical debt should be weighed against the benefits of faster development cycles, higher quality products, and improved customer satisfaction.
Technical Debt and Innovation
Technical debt can have a profound impact on innovation. Excessive technical debt can hinder the ability to adapt to new technologies and implement new features. In the worst case, it can lead to a situation where the software can only be patched rather than improved. Managing technical debt effectively is crucial for maintaining the flexibility and agility needed to innovate and stay competitive in the market.
Conclusion
In conclusion, preventing technical debt is a multifaceted challenge that requires a proactive and strategic approach. By raising awareness, assessing the software erosion, establishing uniform coding principles, and implementing robust CI processes, organizations can maintain high software quality and avoid the pitfalls of technical debt. This not only enhances the maintainability and scalability of the software but also ensures that it remains reliable and efficient in the long run. Balancing immediate needs with long-term quality, providing continuous training, and managing legacy code effectively are all essential components of a comprehensive strategy to manage technical debt. By doing so, organizations can sustain productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction in the competitive landscape of software development.
Need more information?
Watch our webinar "The Cost of Code: Understanding and Overcoming Technical Debt"
Visit our website to learn how Axivion can help you stop software erosion.
Contact us to request a demo or speak to one of our experts.
