The Joel Test

Definitions

1. A 12-question checklist created by Joel Spolsky to quickly assess the maturity of a software team, covering basics like version control, bug databases, schedules, and quiet working conditions. It became a culturally influential shorthand for engineering sanity checks.

   In plain English: A famous checklist for judging whether a software team has important basic practices in place.

   Example: "They failed the Joel Test in obvious ways: no build automation, no test environment, and no stable bug tracker."

Related Terms

• Technical Debt
• Zombie Project
• Psychological Safety
• Context Switching Tax
• Five Whys
• Definition of Done
• Zero Bug Policy
• Deadline Driven Development