What does the term "Technical Debt" represent?

The term "Technical Debt" refers to the eventual consequences of poor technical choices. This concept helps to understand the trade-offs made during the software development process. When teams prioritize short-term gains, such as delivering features quickly or employing quick fixes rather than long-term solutions, they inadvertently accumulate "debt." This debt manifests as issues that will need to be addressed later, which often results in added complexity, maintenance challenges, and reduced software quality.

Over time, technical debt can slow down development, as the underlying problems become more entrenched and harder to fix. The focus on immediate benefits can lead to an accumulation of shortcuts that must eventually be managed for the system to remain sustainable and effective. Recognizing technical debt allows teams to plan for refactoring and other technical improvements, balancing the need for speed with the necessity of maintaining a clean and manageable codebase.