# Broken windows theory A criminological theory that states that visible signs of crime, anti-social behavior and civil disorder create an environment that encourages further crime and disorder. The theory was introduced by [[James Q Wilson]] and [[George L Kelling]] in 1982. This theory also applies to software development. If you look at a bad piece of code and accept it, then it invites the introduction of more quality issues into the product. Over time this leads to a deterioration of the overall quality. In reality, the broken windows theory applies to many things in life, not only crime and civil disorder. It applies to software development, personal knowledge management, housekeeping, work, etc. One way is to follow the [[Boy Scout rule]]: [[Always try to leave things in a better shape than when you found them]]. [[Leave Things BETTER than you found them]]. ## References - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_windows_theory