Wednesday 19 March 2025
A new board game designed to teach people about technical debt, a common problem in software development, has shown promising results in its initial trials. The game, called TechDebt, is designed to help non-technical stakeholders understand the concept of technical debt and how it can affect their work.
Technical debt refers to the shortcuts or quick fixes that developers may use to get a project up and running quickly, but which can lead to long-term problems and difficulties in maintaining the software. It’s a common issue in software development, where developers may prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability.
The TechDebt game is designed to help people understand this concept by simulating real-world scenarios. Players take on the role of developers or project managers, and have to make decisions about how to allocate resources and manage technical debt. The game includes a range of challenges and obstacles that players must overcome, such as tight deadlines, limited budgets, and conflicting priorities.
The game has been tested with a group of 46 practitioners from various industries, including software development, IT, and engineering. The results showed that the majority of players found the game to be enjoyable and realistic, and that it helped them understand the concept of technical debt better.
One of the key benefits of the TechDebt game is its ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders. In software development, technical debt can have a significant impact on project timelines, budgets, and overall success. However, non-technical stakeholders may not fully understand the implications of technical debt, which can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunication.
The TechDebt game is designed to help address this issue by providing a shared understanding of technical debt among all stakeholders. By playing the game, non-technical stakeholders can gain a better appreciation for the challenges that developers face when dealing with technical debt, and how it can affect their work.
The game also provides a safe space for developers to discuss their experiences and share their knowledge with others. In software development, technical debt is often seen as a taboo topic, and developers may be reluctant to discuss it openly. The TechDebt game provides a way for developers to talk about their experiences in a non-judgmental setting, which can help build trust and improve communication among team members.
Overall, the TechDebt game shows promise as a tool for teaching people about technical debt and improving communication among software development teams.
Cite this article: “TechDebt: A Board Game to Teach Technical Debt Awareness”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Software Development, Technical Debt, Game-Based Learning, Non-Technical Stakeholders, Communication, Team Collaboration, Project Management, It, Engineering, Decision-Making.
