> perfecting something that, almost by definition, could have waited a while

No technical debt is not the same thing as “perfection”. Good enough doesn’t mean perfect.

Would it be ok to submit an essay with only 90% of the underlined spelling mistakes fixed? Do you paint your outdoor table but leave the underside for later?

Do it once, do it right. That doesn’t mean perfect, it means not cutting corners.

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zoul an hour ago | parent [-]

Would you keep fixing the underlined spelling mistakes on your “watch out for holes in the pavement” sign while people are already walking there?

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lll-o-lll an hour ago | parent [-]

There are contexts where quick and dirty and (hopefully) come back later are warranted. Far more often it is just an excuse for shoddy work. You used the word “perfection” as the contrast to “technical debt”. Granted, technical debt is not a well defined term, but I am simply highlighting that “free from technical debt” in no way implies anything like perfect. It just implies well made.

	▲	zoul 3 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		My argument works just as well if you replace “perfecting” with “improving”.