> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://madewithlove.com/blog/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to manage technical debt as part of your agile process - URL: https://madewithlove.com/blog/how-to-manage-technical-debt-as-part-of-your-agile-process/ - Published: 2024-12-05T09:07:05.000Z - Updated: 2026-06-24T08:06:49.000Z - Description: How to manage technical debt effectively to keep startups agile with strategies for documenting and prioritising technical debt, integrating it into your roadmap, and creating a culture of continuous improvement. Keep your codebase healthy and your team productive with these actionable tips. - Author: Yannick De Pauw - Tags: Leadership, Code quality, Ideas, Processes, Engineering, Technical debt ## Document technical debt [Technical debt](https://madewithlove.com/blog/on-technical-debt-what-is-it-how-is-it-created-how-to-avoid-it-and-how-to-fix-it/) isn’t just something to gripe about during stand-ups—it’s a real issue that can cripple your startup’s ability to move quickly if not managed properly. The first step is to document it. A great way to visualise technical debt is the “[Wall of technical debt](https://verraes.net/2020/01/wall-of-technical-debt/)”, which serves as a tangible reminder of what needs attention. Using code quality metrics can also help to detect and document specific types of technical debt, setting a baseline that teams can work towards improving. But remember, technical debt isn’t just about the code. Architectural decisions, infrastructure choices, and dependencies can all accrue technical debt. So, make sure to keep an eye on those as well. ## Prioritise technical debt Not all technical debt is created equal. Just like you wouldn’t tackle all bugs in a single sprint, you need to prioritise which technical debt is most pressing. Focus first on areas of the code that change frequently or are expected to change soon. These parts are at the highest risk of becoming bottlenecks. Another approach is to document the time lost due to technical debt. If a particular module slows down your team every week, make sure that’s noted. Risk assessment also plays a role—security vulnerabilities, vendor lock-in, or anything that threatens the integrity of your system should be top priorities. **Also read**: [Understanding and managing technical debt and legacy code: a guide for founders](https://madewithlove.com/blog/understanding-and-managing-technical-debt-and-legacy-code-a-guide-for-founders/) ## Make managing technical debt part of your roadmap Managing technical debt shouldn’t be an afterthought or something you address when everything else is done (spoiler alert: that moment never arrives). Instead, make it part of your roadmap. This can be done by allocating a percentage of each sprint to technical debt or even scheduling dedicated technical debt sprints, weeks, or days. Cooldown periods. Recovery blocks. Time that is not allocated to work on new things but regular blocks to tackle everything else of your product. You might decide, for example, that 10-20% of each sprint is devoted to reducing technical debt. Or you could plan dedicated "tech debt moments" where no new features are built, and the team focuses purely on refactoring and improvements. Making it part of the roadmap ensures that everyone, from developers to stakeholders, knows that technical debt is being tackled in a structured way. **Also read**: [How to communicate a roadmap to VCs](https://madewithlove.com/blog/how-to-communicate-a-roadmap-to-vcs/) ## Make the leave-no-trace principle part of the company culture If you've ever been a Scout, you know the rule: always leave the campground cleaner than you found it. This concept of opportunistic refactoring, known as “scouting” in software development, is about continuous improvement. Every time a developer touches a piece of code, they should aim to leave it better than they found it. This doesn’t mean completely refactoring the module every time you fix a typo—it means taking small steps to improve code quality. It’s a cultural shift that encourages everyone to feel responsible for the quality of the product and to leave things just a bit better for the next person. Encouraging this practice across the company ensures that technical debt is continuously addressed, even outside of dedicated tech debt sprints. **Also read**: [A framework to deal with technical debt](https://madewithlove.com/blog/a-framework-to-deal-with-technical-debt/) ## Conclusion Technical debt is inevitable, but unmanaged technical debt is avoidable. Document it, prioritise it, integrate it into your planning, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. We’ve also written [a handy field manual for handling technical debt in a front-end codebase](https://madewithlove.com/blog/refactoring-an-old-front-end-codebase-a-field-manual/) that could get you started. By incorporating technical debt management into your agile process, you’re not only keeping your codebase healthy but also ensuring your team can innovate without unnecessary drag. If you're struggling to control technical debt or need help integrating these strategies into your agile process, we'd love to help. We work with startups to develop sustainable engineering practices that keep technical debt manageable and teams productive. [CTO as a Service for SaaS Startups - Expert Leadership & Mentoring - madewithloveUnlock the power of CTO as a Service for your SaaS startup. Our CTOs in residence offer tailored leadership, mentoring for tech teams, and strategic guidance to help you scale with confidence.![](https://madewithlove.com/blog/content/images/icon/icon-192x192-3.png)madewithlove![](https://madewithlove.com/blog/content/images/thumbnail/header-3.webp)](https://madewithlove.com/cto-as-a-service)