Shortcuts are the longest route you'll ever take.

We’ve all done it, added a “temporary” hack with the promise to fix it later...
But later never comes, and that “quick fix” ends up living rent-free in the codebase for years.

Shortcuts feel fast, but they rarely are. They make you focus on the happy path and blind to edge cases.
Much like taking a shortcut through the woods, it might seem faster, but you could come out covered in ticks and regret.

If this sounds familiar, you're thinking about our post on technical debt. They are related but not the same.
Technical debt: accumulated decisions and trade-offs over time, a team-level concern.
Shortcuts: moment-to-moment habits due to pressure and discipline, a developer-level issue.

Shortcuts aren't about speed, they’re about pressure. We take them because we feel like we don’t have enough time, not because we actually don’t.

Here are a few examples
🚩 Jumping straight into code without fully understanding the requirements
🚩 Copy-pasting instead of consolidating logic (“I’ll refactor later”)
🚩 Skipping thoughtful naming or structure
🚩 Adding a quick hack instead of designing a real solution


The danger is the mindset:
🚩 “I’ll fix it later.” (when?)
🚩 “It’s just one line.” (One line can break a system.)
🚩 “No one will notice.” (You just did!)

Here's some advice for the next time you feel like taking a shortcut:
✅ Think about what happens when the hack fails, not when it works
✅ Don’t let deadlines dictate quality
✅ If you must take a shortcut, document it and own it
✅ Understand the risks before you take a shortcut
✅ Temporary should mean temporary! Clean up after yourself

Shortcuts can save you time today, but cost you trust, stability, and weekends tomorrow. So if you must take one, take it with your eyes open and your bug spray ready.
You’ll thank yourself later.