While working for my last client, we needed to extend an existing feature.
We had to import an Excel file with a list of guests into a group event. Think of importing all the guests to a wedding reception at a hotel.
“You only have to add your changes to this existing component. It’s already working.”
That was what our Product Owner told us.
I bet you have heard that, too.
The next thing we knew was that the “already-working” component had issues. The original team was laid off, and we couldn’t get our questions answered or count on them to fix those issues.
What was a simple coding task turned out to be a longer one. Weeks later, we were still fixing existing issues.
Before starting to work on top of an “already-working” feature: test it and give a list of existing issues.
Otherwise, those existing issues will appear as bugs in your changes. And people will start asking questions:
“Why are you taking so much time on this? It’s a simple task. It was already working.”
In my hometown, we have a saying: “Break old, pay new.”
Lesson learned! Once you touch it, you own it!
Join my free 7-day email course to refactor your software engineering career now.
Happy coding!
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