Balancing deadlines and technical debt demands precision: prioritize impactful fixes to safeguard deliverables, communicate transparently to align client expectations, and chip away at debt iteratively, creating a rhythm where progress and stability coexist seamlessly.

I handle deadlines and tech debt by fixing urgent issues first and saving less critical ones for later. When adding new features, I clean up nearby code to stop problems from growing. If I need a quick fix, I use feature flags so I can improve it later without breaking anything. Automated testing helps catch mistakes early and keeps things running smoothly. If tech debt might slow us down later, I explain it to clients in simple terms so we can plan ahead. I also set aside a little time in each sprint to reduce tech debt, so it never becomes a big problem.

Struggling with technical debt and client deadlines? Prioritize impact: Tackle high-risk issues first. Communicate clearly: Set realistic client expectations. Iterate regularly: Address tech debt in small, manageable steps

Podemos ser ambiciosos, tanto nosotros como nuestros clientes, pero es crucial "levantar la mano" a tiempo si detectamos riesgos que puedan comprometer los plazos establecidos. En la mayoría de los casos, los clientes comprenden perfectamente las razones detrás de una desviación. Por eso, la transparencia y la comunicación son esenciales: debemos mantenerlos informados y hacerles partícipes del esfuerzo que estamos realizando. La mejor deuda técnica es la que nunca se genera. Hay que evitarla siempre que sea posible, replanteando los entregables para alinearlos mejor con los objetivos del negocio. Seguro que muchas funcionalidades pueden postergarse para el lanzamiento inicial, pero jamás debemos comprometer la calidad.

I’ve noticed that many times we prioritize the ongoing new tasks because of the strict and tight deadlines and keep ignoring the technical debts which keeps accumulating. In my opinion, the best practice is to dedicate at least 30 percent of time to tech debt every sprint and make sure that you’re precise about it.

Balancing technical debt with client deadlines requires a disciplined strategy. I have found that integrating tech debt resolution into regular development cycles prevents it from spiraling out of control. Prioritizing fixes that enhance stability and scalability ensures long-term efficiency without derailing immediate deliverables. Transparent communication with stakeholders about trade-offs fosters trust and alignment. Treating tech debt management as an ongoing process rather than a one-time effort keeps systems resilient while meeting business demands.

The best way i have experiencied so far is having 2 backlogs one for the tasks and another for the tech debt, and ensuring that in the long term the tech debt backlog is getting smaller. To achieve that a great pratice is to always make sure of including tech debts in at least 10 to 15 per cent of the capacity of the sprint, even more if we can turn the tech debt into a deliverable with tangible value to the client for example: Refactoring some DB queries, if while refactoring we can somehow manage to improve the query speed we can also “sell it” to the client as a new feature

When facing technical debt & client deadlines, it's crucial to prioritize tasks effectively. Start by identifying high-impact areas of technical debt that could hinder progress & address those first. Communicate openly with clients about the implications of technical debt on timelines, setting realistic expectations to foster understanding. This transparency helps build trust & aligns priorities. Next, implement a structured approach to gradually tackle technical debt alongside client work. Allocate dedicated time in your development cycle for addressing debt while balancing new features. Utilizing agile methodologies can help manage workload efficiently, ensuring that client demands are met without sacrificing long-term project health. 🤝

As a developer, I never faced this situation. So am I an exceptional developer? Absolutely not! How you intercept the problem & optimistic approach is the key to avoid any uncomfortable position. Use clean architecture and design patterns which eliminates 90% of the problems at the start which are likely to occur in the near future costing you the time and reduced code quality and congrats, you are a victim of corporate politics and relationships. In the era of booming artificial intelligence, leverage it to your own personal and professional growth. Understand the 'why' part, learn the 'how' part and your clients will never ask about the 'when' part.

Balance both by prioritizing critical technical debt that directly impacts delivery. Allocate 10–20% of each sprint for refactoring while delivering features. Use incremental refactoring—improve code while working on new tasks instead of delaying fixes. Automate testing, CI/CD, and monitoring to prevent further debt. Improve estimations by factoring in tech debt cleanup and adding buffer time. Communicate trade-offs with clients, offering options between speed and long-term stability. Follow the Boy Scout Rule—always leave code better than you found it. This way, you manage deadlines while reducing long-term risks.