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Google study links perceived code quality to developer productivity

dl.acm.org Editor score 7/10

A study of Google developers across 39 productivity factors finds that increases in perceived code quality tend to precede increases in self-reported productivity. The findings inform engineering investment decisions, though the outcome measures are self-reported.

What
A Google study examined how technical and organizational factors relate to developers’ self-reported productivity.
Method
Its lagged panel analysis found that increases in perceived code quality tend to precede increased perceived productivity, but not vice versa.
Why it matters
For engineering organizations, the findings make code quality a potential productivity investment, alongside tools, technical debt, communication, and priorities.

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