Technical debt and developer burnout are common issues in tech offices, but do you know they are closely connected? One may not notice it at first glance, but if you look closely, they create a cycle that is hard to break. Today, I will explain this correlation!
What Is Technical Debt?
Technical debt happens when code is written quickly to meet a deadline. Basically, tech debt meaning fixing an issue with not the best solution or possibly in the worst way.
It’s a shortcut that may save time for developers in the short term but causes problems in the long term. The easy solution can create small troubles that pile up with each new modification and make the system harder to maintain, slow to work with, and prone to bugs.
How does Burnout happen after Technical Debt?
As technical debt builds up, it creates more work for developers. Instead of focusing on new features or improving existing ones, they spend time fixing old code, hunting down bugs, or patching parts of the system that have become fragile. This can be frustrating, especially when it feels like they’re doing a lot but not moving forward.
Here are some other ways tech debt can lead to developer burnout:
- Constant Context Switching: Technical debt can lead to constant context switching. Developers might need to jump from one section of the code to another, trying to understand outdated or poorly written parts. This slows down productivity and creates mental fatigue as they struggle to keep track of multiple tasks at once.
- A feeling of Declining Quality: Working in a codebase with high techn debt can make developers feel like they’re doing a bad job. Even though they’re doing their best, the code’s quality suffers. This feeling of declining quality can be demotivating and make developers feel like they aren’t making a positive impact on the product.
- Pressure to Deliver Quickly: Technical debt is often created when there’s pressure to deliver quickly. As deadlines keep coming, shortcuts may become routine. This creates an environment where developers are always “putting out fires,” leading to stress and burnout over time.
The cycle goes both ways. When developers are burned out, they’re more likely to make mistakes, skip steps, or take shortcuts themselves just to get through the day. They may not have the mental energy to write clean, well-documented code, which leads to more technical debt.
How to break the cycle?
Here are the ways to prevent this unending cycle between tech debt and developer burnout:
- Prioritize Time for Refactoring: Setting aside regular time to clean up and refactor code can make a big difference. When refactoring becomes part of the workflow, developers have a chance to address technical debt before it becomes overwhelming.
- Set Realistic Deadlines: Unrealistic deadlines are one of the biggest drivers of this phenomenon. When planning projects, teams should aim for deadlines that allow developers to write good code from the start. This reduces the need for shortcuts and helps developers feel less pressure.
- Promote Open Communication: Encourage developers to speak up about technical debt and burnout. If they’re struggling with a codebase that’s slowing them down, managers need to know. Having open discussions about technical debt can help identify problem areas early and prevent them from becoming a source of burnout.
- Break Up Large Tasks: When developers have to face a mountain of issues, it can feel overwhelming. Breaking up large refactoring tasks into smaller, manageable ones can make the process less daunting. This way, progress can be made step by step, reducing the mental load on developers.
- Invest in Documentation: Keeping documentation up to date can make it easier to work with old code. Well-documented code reduces the frustration of context switching, as developers spend less time trying to understand what’s happening in each section of the code.
Takeaways
Technical debt and developer burnout are linked in a cycle, with each one making the other worse. By taking small steps to manage technical debt and setting up a work environment that values quality code, teams can reduce burnout. Addressing it isn’t just good for the codebase; it’s also essential for keeping developers happy and engaged.
