Technical Debt Is a Balance Sheet Item, Not a Moral Failing
The term “technical debt” was coined by Ward Cunningham specifically as a financial metaphor. Debt isn’t inherently bad — it’s a tradeoff: you get something now in exchange for a future obligation. When the metaphor is understood, the management of technical debt becomes clearer. When the moral framing replaces the financial one, it becomes a guilt-driven cycle that helps nobody. ...