Ron Jeffries, a software developer, explores the idea of ‘sand in the gears’, a metaphorical concept denoting obstacles in a project’s progress. He asserts that these hindrances, often caused by technical debt, can slow down or halt the project entirely. Technical debt refers to the extra development work that arises when code that is easy to implement in the short run is used instead of applying the best overall solution.
Jeffries argues that to avoid this situation, teams should strive for clean code from the start, making sure that the system is always at its best. He suggests refactoring, or improving the existing code without altering its external behaviour, as a solution to handle technical debt.
He highlights the importance of communication within the team, as understanding the problem and its potential solutions is a collective responsibility. Jeffries also emphasises the role of tests in ensuring the code’s correctness and preventing future ‘sand’.
Finally, he warns against the complacency of thinking that the project can go on indefinitely despite the ‘sand’. He insists that the ‘sand’ must be dealt with promptly before it becomes an insurmountable barrier.
Go to source article: http://ronjeffries.com/articles/017-08ff/sand/