How to Spot Technical Debt in Engineering Projects?

Spot technical debt early in large projects, understand its impact and explore ways to resolve it.

Introduction

Technical debt refers to the implied cost of additional rework caused by choosing a quicker, less optimal solution during development instead of a better, more thorough approach. It often arises when development teams prioritize speed over long-term quality.

In large engineering projects, where countless lines of code and layers of complexity intertwine, technical debt can silently snowball into a significant issue. What starts as a “quick fix” to meet a deadline or a shortcut to ship features faster often turns into hidden inefficiencies, escalating costs, and looming risks.

This debt can compromise scalability, slow progress, and frustrate teams if left unchecked. According to McKinsey research, one large bank estimates that its 1,000 systems and apps produce more than $2 billion in yearly tech debt expenses.

Like financial debt, technical debt builds up when shortcuts are taken — such as skipping proper documentation, delaying code refactoring, or choosing quick fixes over long-term solutions. Technical debt compounds over time, reducing code maintainability, recurring defects, and project delays.

Spotting these red flags early on enables your team to tackle concerns proactively. For example, if you notice frequent bugs in legacy code or find that adding new features takes disproportionately longer, it might be time to “pay off” some of that technical debt. Addressing these issues upfront can prevent the “interest” from piling up and derailing future progress.

In this article, we’ll explore the subtle yet critical indicators of technical debt in large engineering projects and share actionable strategies to minimize its impact.

Top 6 Early Warning Signs of Technical Debt

Technical debt doesn’t appear overnight — it builds up gradually, often hiding in plain sight. Spotting the early signs can mean the difference between maintaining smooth project progress or facing spiraling costs and delays.

Let’s break them down to help you stay ahead.

1. Increased Complexity in Project Designs

Complex designs can become breeding grounds for technical debt, especially when they’re not well-documented or streamlined. Over-engineered solutions might seem clever at first but often lead to challenges in scaling and maintaining the system.

For example, a project with multiple interdependent microservices may face issues if dependencies are not clearly defined. This can result in cascading failures during updates or debugging.

2. Repeated Patches or Quick Fixes in Previous Phases

Making quick fixes is the fastest way to maintain project momentum. However, these have a cascading impact that results in long-term instability.

Because temporary remedies don’t address the underlying causes of problems, teams that rely on them risk accruing more technical debt, this instability becomes apparent when the system is scaling or under high loads.

Why It Matters?

Temporary fixes build dependencies on weak foundations. For example, a misaligned API logic might work for initial traffic but fail when user loads grow significantly. Teams should focus on refactoring and addressing design flaws to prevent cascading failures.

3. Over-Reliance on Outdated Technology

Using outdated frameworks or tools can slow down development and introduce security risks. Modernizing the tech stack is often delayed due to budget concerns, but the longer the wait, the higher the cost of technical debt.

4. Project Management Challenges

Beyond technical indicators, inefficient project management practices can also signal mounting technical debt.

• Inefficient Resource Allocation: Poorly planned resource allocation can leave critical tasks understaffed, leading to rushed decisions and corner-cutting during development.
• Lack of Cohesive Team Communication: Technical debt often arises from miscommunication. If teams don’t align on goals and coding standards, inconsistencies and redundant work creep into the project.
• Fragmented Documentation Processes: Poor documentation makes it harder to onboard new team members and troubleshoot issues, increasing the time and cost to resolve problems.

5. Technical Indicators

Technical red flags are often the most visible but frequently ignored until they disrupt workflows.

• Frequent Code Revisions and Bug Reports: If a codebase requires constant revisions, it’s often a sign that fundamental issues were overlooked during initial development.
• Prolonged Debugging Sessions: Extended debugging sessions indicate an overly complex or poorly maintained codebase, which can delay project milestones.
• Outdated Tools and Technologies: Relying on outdated tools that lack modern functionality or integrations can cripple productivity and add unnecessary complexity.

6. Financial Indicators

Technical debt doesn’t just affect project timelines; it also affects budgets.

• Exceeding Budget Allocations: Frequent budget overruns often stem from unanticipated rework or inefficiencies introduced by technical debt.
• Misalignment of Project Funding: When funding priorities don’t align with the project’s actual needs, teams may delay necessary updates, worsening technical debt.

Recognizing these early warning signs is the first step to mitigating technical debt. Let’s explore practical strategies for keeping technical debt in check and ensuring your large engineering projects stay on track.

3 Preventive Strategies to Avoid Technical Debt

Technical debt can quietly derail even the most promising projects if left unchecked. By adopting proactive measures, teams can minimize risks and ensure long-term project success.

Here are some strategies you need to consider to avoid technical debt.

1. Conduct Regular Technical Audits and Reviews

Regular audits help uncover hidden inefficiencies, outdated processes, or misaligned priorities before they become more significant issues. By periodically reviewing the codebase and system architecture, teams can identify areas prone to technical debt and address them proactively.

• What It Solves: Audits highlight inefficiencies in complex architectures, such as bottlenecks in API performance or redundancies in microservices.
• How to Implement: Schedule quarterly reviews involving cross-functional teams to evaluate code quality, scalability, and compliance with industry standards.

2. Invest in Ongoing Training for Teams

Outdated skills can contribute to technical debt just as much as outdated tools. Providing your team with training on modern technologies, frameworks, and best practices ensures they’re equipped to design scalable solutions.

• What It Solves: Reduces dependency on obsolete frameworks and encourages innovative problem-solving.
• How to Implement: Offer workshops or certifications tailored to project requirements, like scalable cloud infrastructure for large engineering projects.

3. Prioritize Sustainable and Scalable Solutions

Short-term fixes might meet deadlines, but they often lead to long-term instability. Prioritize maintainable and scalable solutions, even if they require more upfront time.

• What It Solves: Reduces the need for repeated patches and ensures smoother future upgrades.
• How to Implement: Build scalability checks into your design phase, simulating high-load conditions during early development stages.

The effectiveness of these strategies often depends on the project’s unique challenges and goals. Now, let’s examine real-world examples of engineering projects and how they tackled technical debt to achieve success.

Case Studies of Engineering Projects

Understanding real-world examples of debt management — or mismanagement — provides invaluable insights for teams striving to achieve scalable and sustainable results.

1. Successful Debt Management in Large Engineering Projects

One of the best examples of proactive technical debt management comes from Shopify’s preparation for a global launch. Facing tight deadlines, the team initially took shortcuts in their database schema design to meet release goals. However, they established a robust post-launch plan to address these trade-offs.

Strategies Implemented:

• Conducted monthly code audits to identify and prioritize technical debt.
• Transitioned to a microservices architecture to improve scalability and reduce interdependencies.
• Invested in training for the team to modernize their tech stack.

2. Lessons Learned from a High-Profile Project Failure

Not all stories end on a high note. A government-led transportation project in the UK offers a cautionary tale in project management and technical execution. The initiative involved developing a unified software system to manage traffic flow in a busy metropolitan area. Initial designs relied heavily on outdated technology and lacked proper documentation.

What Went Wrong:

• The team repeatedly patched critical bugs instead of addressing root causes.
• Communication breakdowns between departments led to inconsistent implementation of standards.
• Escalating costs forced compromises on quality assurance, further exacerbating technical debt.

Impact: The project was eventually abandoned after exceeding its budget and failing to deliver a usable system. A report from CISQ highlights that poor software quality, often stemming from technical debt, costs U.S. companies around $2.41 trillion annually due to inefficiencies and maintenance issues.

Conclusion

Technical debt is a reality for large engineering projects, but its management defines the difference between success and failure. Addressing it early allows teams to spot inefficiencies and risks before they grow, safeguarding project stability and cost-effectiveness. Proactive strategies ensure smooth execution, enabling businesses to build scalable, maintainable, innovative solutions that stand the test of time.

At Maruti Techlabs, we specialize in helping businesses overcome challenges posed by technical debt while driving innovation and scalability. From comprehensive software audits to custom software development, our tailored solutions empower teams to deliver high-quality results efficiently. Don’t let technical debt slow your progress.

Contact us to discover how our experience can transform the success of your engineering projects and set the foundation for sustainable growth. Together, we’ll ensure your projects remain resilient and future-ready.

FAQs

1. Can small businesses face technical debt issues like large engineering projects?

Yes. While the scale may differ, small businesses can encounter similar challenges, such as outdated tools or rushed development cycles. Addressing these early is equally important for maintaining efficiency and scaling operations.

2. How do you measure the cost of technical debt?

Technical debt costs can be measured by evaluating rework time, reduced system performance, and the potential financial impact of delays or failures. Tools like SonarQube or CodeClimate provide insights into maintainability.

3. How often should technical audits be performed?

Quarterly audits are recommended for active development teams. However, high-impact projects may benefit from monthly evaluations to control technical debt.

4. What tools can help manage technical debt in large engineering projects?

Tools like Jira for task tracking, SonarQube for code analysis, and GitHub for collaboration are invaluable. These platforms ensure consistency, transparency, and real-time feedback.

5. How can training help reduce technical debt?

Training equips teams with knowledge of modern frameworks and scalable practices. Well-trained teams make better design decisions, reducing the chances of accumulating technical debt during development.

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