Backward Compatibility vs. Technical Debt - The Eternal Struggle in Software Maintenance

Explore the complex relationship between backward compatibility and technical debt in long-term project maintenance through this 48-minute conference talk from the International PHP Conference. Examine WordPress as a case study, highlighting how its commitment to backward compatibility contributes to its success but also leads to accumulating technical debt. Learn about the challenges of maintaining a high-technical-debt codebase, the implications for dependent projects, and potential strategies for achieving a more balanced approach. Discover how WordPress finally overcame its PHP 5.2 requirement, offering insights into managing the delicate balance between user-friendly updates and sustainable development practices.

The eternal struggle: Backward compatibility vs. technical debt | Alain Schlesser