---
title: "Software Development Waste"
url: https://daily.dev/posts/software-development-waste-ilf3u6jz0
source_url: https://newsletter.techworld-with-milan.com/p/software-development-waste
type: article
source: "Tech World With Milan"
published: 2026-01-15T16:13:08.512Z
updated: 2026-01-15T16:13:31.718Z
tags: ["productivity", "agile", "technical-debt"]
reading_time: 15
upvotes: 98
comments: 3
language: en
---

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# Software Development Waste

**[Tech World With Milan](https://daily.dev/sources/techworld-with-milan)** · 15 min read · 98 upvotes · 3 comments

## Summary

Waste in software development includes seven classic types identified by the Poppendiecks: partially done work, extra features, relearning, handoffs, delays, context switching, and defects. Modern research expands this to nine categories, adding wrong features, backlog mismanagement, over-engineering, cognitive load, psychological distress, ineffective communication, and AI-generated code waste. Teams can reduce waste through value stream mapping, WIP limits, cross-functional teams, knowledge-sharing practices, rigorous prioritization, and maintaining team morale. The goal is continuous identification and elimination of non-value-adding activities.

## Full article

daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: <https://newsletter.techworld-with-milan.com/p/software-development-waste>

## Community discussion

Top comments from developers on daily.dev.

**@eyoung** · 2 upvotes

> Really good article, the Beyond the Seven section was useful, we're in the midst of a process re-design and we'll be referencing this.

**@stuartgreig** · 0 upvotes

> Really good article, but I guess what it boils down to is projects and time need to be planned properly, something that doesn't happen enough.

**@a\_meb\_a** · 0 upvotes

> like it

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---

Tags: [#productivity](https://daily.dev/tags/productivity), [#agile](https://daily.dev/tags/agile), [#technical-debt](https://daily.dev/tags/technical-debt)

[View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/software-development-waste-ilf3u6jz0)