What is Technical Insolvency Date?
The Technical Insolvency Date (TID) is a framework coined by Richard Ewing that identifies the specific future quarter when an organization's technical debt maintenance will consume 100% of engineering capacity, leaving zero time for new feature development.
The TID is calculated by projecting the current maintenance percentage growth against available engineering hours. If a team currently spends 45% of time on maintenance and that percentage grows 3% per quarter, the Technical Insolvency Date can be calculated as the quarter when maintenance reaches 100%.
Most organizations track technical debt qualitatively. The TID makes it quantitative and urgent. Telling a board 'we have technical debt' gets ignored. Telling a board 'we are 8 quarters from technical insolvency' gets immediate action.
The Product Debt Index (PDI) calculator at richardewing.io/tools/pdi automates this calculation, translating maintenance burden into dollar terms and projecting the Technical Insolvency Date.
Why It Matters
The TID transforms technical debt from a vague concern into a concrete, dated financial risk. It gives engineering leaders the language to communicate urgency to CFOs and boards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Technical Insolvency Date?
The TID is the specific quarter when maintenance costs consume 100% of engineering capacity, leaving zero time for new development. Coined by Richard Ewing.
How do you calculate the Technical Insolvency Date?
Measure current maintenance percentage, track its growth rate, and project forward. Use the PDI calculator at richardewing.io/tools/pdi for automated calculation.
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Richard Ewing is a Product Economist and AI Capital Auditor. He helps companies translate technical complexity into financial clarity.
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