How do you explain refactoring to a non-technical person?

Posted by Benjol on Programmers See other posts from Programmers or by Benjol
Published on 2010-11-10T06:03:21Z Indexed on 2012/09/25 3:50 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 328

Filed under:

communication

|

refactoring

(This question was inspired by the most-voted answer here)

How do you go about explaining refactoring (and technical debt) to a non-technical person (typically a PHB or customer)? ("What, it's going to cost me a month of your work with no visible difference?!")

UPDATE Thanks for all the answers so far, I think this list will provide several useful analogies to which we can point the appropriate people (though editing out references to PHBs may be wise!)

© Programmers or respective owner

Related posts about communication

Java Inter Process communication and Inter Thread communication ?

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Hi, First , what is the difference between Thread and a Process in Java context? and How Inter Process communication and Inter Thread communication is acheived in Java? Please point me real time examples. Thx >>> More
Communication software wanted: email, sms, IM, phone calls [closed]

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I am searching for a software solution that integrates / unifies my communication. I use email, instant messaging, SMS and phone. I would like to get all emails, SMS, instant messaging dialogs and meta-data about phone calls into one application. Important is that I can access all past communication… >>> More
Siebel 8.1.1 for Communication

as seen on Oracle Blogs - Search for 'Oracle Blogs'
The latest release of Siebel CRM 8.1.1 includes many new features and enhancements for the Communications industry. In this webcast, you’ll hear from Brenda Harris, Principal Product Strategy Manager for Communications here at Oracle. She’ll explain how Siebel Communications 8.1.1 will help your communications… >>> More
Looking for a communication framework for delphi

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
I am looking for a communication framework for delphi, we know there are so many communication frameworks for other languages , wcf, ecf and so forth, but i have nerver found the one for delphi till now , anybody who knows about it can give me an ider? There are some requirements i need ,as follows: Building… >>> More
That Escalated Quickly

as seen on Geeks with Blogs - Search for 'Geeks with Blogs'
Originally posted on: http://geekswithblogs.net/GruffCode/archive/2014/05/17/that-escalated-quickly.aspxI have been working remotely out of my home for over 4 years now. All of my coworkers during that time have also worked remotely. Lots of folks have written about the challenges inherent in facilitating… >>> More

Related posts about refactoring

Reconciling the Boy Scout Rule and Opportunistic Refactoring with code reviews

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
I am a great believer in the Boy Scout Rule: Always check a module in cleaner than when you checked it out." No matter who the original author was, what if we always made some effort, no matter how small, to improve the module. What would be the result? I think if we all followed that simple… >>> More
Ubuntu 12.04 + Eclipse 64 bits key binding error

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
The text is quite extense so, this is just a part of it: !SESSION 2012-11-23 10:15:52.442 ----------------------------------------------- eclipse.buildId=I20120608-1200 java.version=1.7.0_09 java.vendor=Oracle Corporation BootLoader constants: OS=linux, ARCH=x86_64, WS=gtk, NL=en_US Command-line… >>> More
How far did DevExpress get with Javascript refactoring?

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Over a year ago, I remember watching one of DevExpress evangelists previewing or at least promoting rich Javascript refactoring (beyond just limited intellisense) within the Visual Studio shell, I recall part of CodeRush/DevExpress product line. I was excited. On checking today (lmgtfy) I can find… >>> More
Version control of software refactoring

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
What is the best way of doing version control of large scale refactoring? My typical style of programming (actually of writing documents as well) is getting something out as quickly as possible and then refactoring it. Typically, refactoring takes place at the same time as adding other functionality… >>> More
How would you rewrite/refactor this ?

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
Old application that is used by 50-60.000 paying customers. Company is several hundred people big. Application has a lot of business critical code (30% of all code) written in classic asp. Application has a lot more .net code. Application has a COM+ bridge for enabling asp to "talk" to .net Organization… >>> More