Code Entropy

Definitions

The tendency of codebases to become more disordered, inconsistent, and complex over time unless energy is invested to keep them clean. In engineering slang, code entropy is the maintenance reality behind many 'how did it get like this' moments.
In plain English: The natural tendency of code to get messier over time.
Example: "Without ownership and regular cleanup, code entropy turned a once-tidy service into a patchwork of special cases and half-retired abstractions."