Have you heard the old saying that you can’t put lipstick on a pig? While it conjures up a certain image, the basic sentiment is that no matter how hard we try to make something that is unappealing look or perform in a positive or attractive way, the effort is futile. So your next question might be, “where is this train of thought going?” or “what does this have to do with technical debt?” To answer those questions, let’s look at what technical debt is.
- Technical Debt is a concept in software development that reflects the implied cost of additional rework caused by choosing an easy solution now instead of using a better approach that would take longer.
When it comes to large legacy software applications a company might take a look at what they have and think that it sure would be great if we could just re-write this thing from scratch. You begin to imagine how it would look and the modern technology that would be used to build it. You would fix all the shortcomings. Imagine how fast it would be, not just to use but also to train new hires on how to use it. In your mind it’s like you will be building a finely tuned sports car ready to race around the track.
And then reality kicks in that this will take time. It will take energy. It will take hard work and planning. It will require obtaining buy-in from all the parties concerned. And more than anything else all of this is going to cost money. Often the mindset starts to shift. Maybe a sports car is impractical. Maybe we should just build a nice sensible sedan. Those also cost money!
By the time you reach the end of all this thinking, reasoning, and negotiation in your mind you end up with a plan to simply throw a new paint job on your old jalopy. Sort of the equivalent of the lipstick on the pig. Sometimes, moments like these can function as “so what?” moments. As in, “So what do we do with this legacy application?”
Truthfully, shortcuts are seldom the answer to this question. Shortcuts lead to more and more technical debt. As that debt builds, we have to make the wise decision to invest in moving forward technically. That road might not be easy but the reward on the other side will be worth it. Sometimes the first step on the journey is finding someone who can help you navigate your way. How about giving Ticomix a call and letting us help you navigate your way out of technical debt?