The Importance of Code Quality for Business Success

Every company relies on software to function effectively, whether a traditional business or a technology company. Code quality becomes increasingly crucial for a company's success as software continues to shape our world.

When I started programming 15 years ago, I thought the most important thing was that “it worked”. As I started working on projects for the long term, it was clear that was not the case.

If you give me a program that works perfectly but is impossible to change, then it won’t work when the requirements change, and I won’t be able to make it work. Therefore the program will become useless.
If you give me a program that does not work but is easy to change, then I can make it work, and keep it working as requirements change. Therefore the program will remain continually useful.
Robert C. Martin

Maintainable code is critical to the success of a product. Code that is easy to change allows the team to move faster and ship features quickly, which is a massive advantage. Software keeps getting more sophisticated, so it is imperative to implement best practices from day one to keep code clean and easy to maintain and extend.

There are many ways in which “code quality”, or lack thereof, affects your company:

Improved maintainability

Well-written and easy-to-understand code is much easier to maintain and modify over time, saving time and resources in the long run.

Better collaboration

Code that is well-documented and follows established coding standards is easier for team members to work on together, improving collaboration and productivity.

Ability to retain talented programmers

Bad code frustrates programmers because it does not allow them to be productive. Good programmers like to move quickly and confidently; if code does not allow them to, they leave. Good code allows programmers to be productive and fulfilled and, in turn, less likely to leave.

Being able to change quickly

In software, as in life, the only constant is change.
Code has a short lifetime; even successful products are continually changing.
Being able to change quickly is critical. Companies able to adapt quickly are the most likely to succeed in the short and long run.

Reduced costs

Code that is of high quality is less likely to contain errors and defects, which can save time and resources that would be spent on fixing those issues.

Increased reliability

High-quality code is more reliable, improving the overall reliability of a business's products or services.

Enhanced security

Good code is less prone to bugs and more secure. Security breaches are very costly and damage the company’s brand. This is especially important for businesses that handle sensitive information.

Improved scalability

Code that is well-written and follows best practices is easier to scale and adapt to changing business needs, allowing businesses to grow and adapt more easily.

Writing good code is hard; that is why good programmers are expensive. Football teams with bad players and companies with bad programmers lose too.

Be a craftsman. You will be pleased in the future and so will your company.