Balancing Technical Debt: When to Refactor vs When to Ship

This week, I faced a common challenge: deciding whether to improve existing code or quickly release new features. While building a new integration, I relied on legacy code that was inefficient. The code split logic between the application layer and stored procedures, processed records one at a time, and lacked best practices.

The Dilemma

I had to decide: should I invest time in fully migrating all the logic into a cleaner, more efficient structure, or should I make minimal changes and move forward quickly? This was my dilemma.

My Decision

Ultimately, I chose a middle ground. I refactored only the parts directly related to the new integration, making them more efficient and maintainable without completely overhauling the old codebase. This approach allowed me to balance short-term delivery needs with long-term maintainability goals.

Lessons Learned

Balancing limited resources and high-impact projects is never easy. My initial impulse was to move fast, but taking a step back helped me realize that thoughtful, incremental changes often deliver more value than rushing to ship. This experience taught me the importance of evaluating trade-offs, considering the long-term impact, and striking a balance between refactoring and shipping. I’ll carry these lessons forward into future projects, where the pressure to choose between speed and sustainability is sure to return.