Many developers see clean code as a “nice-to-have” rather than a necessity. When deadlines loom, it’s tempting to write code that just works instead of structuring it for maintainability. But messy code doesn’t just make life harder for future developers—it slows down progress, increases costs, and makes scaling difficult.

Clean code isn’t about perfection—it’s about writing software that is easy to understand, debug, and extend.

The Hidden Costs of Messy Code

1. Slower Development in the Long Run

• Poorly structured code means more time spent debugging and figuring out what previous developers meant.

• In Why Software Teams Should Prioritise Maintainability Over Speed, we covered how rushing development often leads to delays later.

2. Harder Onboarding for New Developers

• Unclear variable names, inconsistent logic, and lack of documentation make it difficult for new team members to contribute.

• Instead of writing new features, they waste weeks just trying to understand the existing codebase.

3. Increased Technical Debt

• Messy code accumulates inefficiencies over time, making future changes riskier.

• In Why Technical Debt Is a Leadership Problem, Not Just a Developer Problem, we explored how bad code compounds over time, increasing costs for businesses.

How to Write Cleaner Code

1. Keep Functions and Classes Small

• Functions should do one thing well, rather than being hundreds of lines long with multiple responsibilities.

• Shorter, focused functions make debugging and testing easier.

2. Name Variables and Functions Clearly

• Instead of vague or cryptic names, use descriptive ones that explain what the variable or function actually does.

• Good: calculateInvoiceTotal()

• Bad: calcInv()

3. Reduce Code Duplication

• Reusing functions and components prevents redundancy and keeps the codebase consistent.

How DevRoom Helps Teams Improve Code Quality

At DevRoom, we help businesses improve their development standards by implementing clean coding principles, refactoring outdated code, and training teams on best practices. By ensuring that every line of code is structured for long-term success, we help companies move faster without technical debt holding them back.

Conclusion

Clean code isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about building software that lasts, scales, and remains easy to maintain. Teams that prioritise clarity over shortcuts develop software that stays reliable and adaptable as it grows.

Want to improve your team’s code quality? DevRoom can help.