“We recently obtained a comprehensive view of our software quality by comparing our products against a benchmark of open-source systems from larger organizations. While we typically focus on delivering solid software without comparing ourselves to others, the analysis revealed we significantly outperform our peer group.” — Robert Bor, CTO at 42.nl
Products in green positioned at the top of maintainability; the benchmark in grey. The vertical axis is the maintainability score, the horizontal axis the product size. The visualization is representative of the analysis approach.
“Some of our products have lower maintainability, which was a deliberate choice during Proof-of-Concept stages, prioritizing development speed over long-term maintenance. We acknowledge this trade-off might require higher costs for quality improvements later.”
Software quality objectives
Robert describes how 42.nl’s commitment to software quality is driven by a clear set of objectives:
- Low maintenance costs. Well-structured code reduces ongoing maintenance expenses and enables efficient development.
- Reliability. High-quality code means fewer bugs and more predictable system behaviour.
- High availability. Robust architecture keeps systems operational when users need them most.
- Extensibility. Clean, modular code allows easier feature additions and system modifications.
- Code transparency. Clear, readable code enables better collaboration and faster problem resolution.
- Prolonged product lifespan. Quality software remains valuable and maintainable for longer.
- Developer satisfaction. Working with clean, well-organised code improves team morale and productivity.
Maintainability Cloud: the analysis tool
“Maintainability Cloud reviewed our products, providing a strategic quality overview while allowing deeper investigation of product strengths and weaknesses. The platform enables us to benchmark our software against industry standards from major technology companies like Google, Netflix, and Spotify, giving us valuable context for our quality achievements.”
Measurable customer benefits
“The results speak for themselves: our products rarely experience downtime, and when issues do occur, we can quickly identify and resolve them. This reliability and quick response capability directly translates to better service for our customers and reduced operational costs.”
Key results
- Products consistently rank at the top of maintainability in peer comparisons
- Minimal downtime and rapid issue resolution
- Clear visibility into technical debt and quality trade-offs
- Objective benchmarking against industry leaders
- Strategic insights for future development decisions