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Engineering Excellence: Declan Whelan on Technical Health, Agile Practices, and Team Culture
Engineering Culture by InfoQ
Reframing Technical Debt as Technical Health
Technical health represents a more positive and holistic view of software development practices compared to the traditionally negative connotation of technical debt. Originally coined by Ward Cunningham, technical debt describes the shortcuts taken during development for immediate benefits, analogous to financial loans that require repayment. However, since these shortcuts are inevitable, it's more constructive to focus on technical health, which emphasizes the ongoing nature of improvement and the differing standards of health that apply to various systems and contexts. Just as an athlete's health standards differ from those of an average person, so too do the considerations of technical health based on specific business goals and conditions. This reframing encourages teams to understand that technical health is always present, prompting continuous reflection and enhancement of practices rather than viewing technical debt as a burden to eliminate. By shifting the narrative from debt to health, teams can engage proactively with their development processes, leading to better outcomes and a more positive approach to maintenance and improvement.
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