How to Avoid "Moving the Mess"
As an intern, I pushed my manager to give me two weeks to rebuild an overly complex service layer built by a contractor years before me.
But without a plan, I jumped into the work, only to make my own mess of "spaghetti code." The work was clunky, and those two weeks felt wasted. My manager was disappointed, and the team was frustrated.
That experience taught me a crucial lesson: without proper planning, you risk rushing to fix one problem only to create another—or just moving the mess elsewhere.
Today, we'll look at how to avoid this trap and make changes that truly move your technology forward.
What is Moving the Mess?
One of the biggest mistakes developers make when trying to fix a broken system is unintentionally "moving the mess."
This happens when you tackle the obvious issues but fail to address the underlying problems. The result? You clean up one area, but the mess resurfaces elsewhere.
For example, you might rebuild a poorly-structured API but introduce new bugs because you didn't fully understand the original architecture.
Moving the mess happens when you focus on fixing symptoms instead of addressing root causes. The good news is that you can avoid this common trap with the right strategies.
Strategies to Avoid Repeating Mistakes
Avoiding the trap of "moving the mess" requires a deliberate approach. Here are some key strategies to help ensure your changes truly move the system forward:
1. Plan First, Code Later
Before touching any code, take the time to understand the full scope of the problem. Ask yourself: What are the root causes of the issues? What will be the ripple effects of this change?
Mapping out your plan saves time and prevents creating new problems down the line.
2. Refactor vs. Rebuild
It's tempting to scrap everything and start fresh, but a targeted refactor is often more effective. Refactoring lets you make improvements while keeping the structure intact.
Know when to refactor versus when a complete rebuild is necessary to avoid unnecessary complexity.
3. Consult the Team
Don't try to solve everything in isolation. Bring in coworkers early to get feedback. They might point out potential blind spots you hadn't considered or offer solutions that save time and effort.
4. Incremental Updates
Big, sweeping changes can be risky. Instead, focus on small, incremental updates. This makes it easier to track progress, test changes, and roll back if something goes wrong. It also helps prevent introducing a whole new set of issues.
5. Write Tests
No change is complete without rigorous testing. Unit, integration, and regression tests are critical to ensuring your fix doesn't break something else. A solid testing strategy catches issues early and keeps things stable.
Where I Went Wrong
Reflecting on my intern project, I can see where things went wrong. I rushed into rebuilding the codebase without a solid plan or understanding of the system's architecture.
At the time, I didn't realize that jumping straight into "fixing" without a strategy led to recreating the same issues in a new form.
Looking back, the missing piece was not due to a lack of technical skill but because I didn't follow a process:
- Slow down and think about what the real issue was.
- Seek feedback from more experienced developers.
- Break down the work into manageable pieces.
If I had taken those steps—consulted the team, planned properly, and focused on incremental improvements—I could have avoided introducing new problems and wasted effort.
The experience taught me that rushing to solve surface-level issues can easily result in new complications. A thoughtful, measured approach ultimately moves a project—and the technology—forward.
Next time you're faced with messy code or a clunky system, pause and ask yourself: Are you genuinely solving the root issues, or just shifting the problem around?
It's easy to get caught up in the rush to "clean things up" without considering the full impact of your changes.
Take a moment to step back and plan. Are there parts of the system you don't fully understand yet? Have you considered the ripple effects of your changes?
Instead of sweeping the mess under the rug or moving it to another room, commit to tackling the core issues—bit by bit, with your team's input and proper testing.
The difference between moving the mess and solving it lies in thoughtful execution. So, how will you approach your next system cleanup? What steps will you take to ensure you're moving forward instead of just moving the problem?