Codifiedoften

Codifiedoften is a term used in knowledge management and software engineering to describe an approach that prioritizes the frequent codification of information into formal, reusable artifacts. The idea is to convert tacit or informal knowledge into explicit rules, standards, schemas, and documentation on a regular cadence.

Origin and etymology: The term is a portmanteau of "codify" and "often." It emerged in industry discussions in the late 2010s as teams sought to reduce ambiguity and improve consistency by maintaining living, up-to-date documentation and standards that track changes over time.

Concept and scope: Codifiedoften can apply across domains such as development, data governance, compliance, and organizational knowledge. Core features include frequent updates, version control, clear provenance for changes, and alignment between documented guidance and implemented systems.

Practices: Typical implementations include maintaining a continuously updated glossary and data dictionary, creating executable specifications that reflect requirements, and logging decisions with rationale. Tooling often involves wikis, issue trackers, version-controlled repos, and metadata catalogs.

Benefits and limitations: Supporters cite improved clarity, onboarding speed, and auditability. Critics warn of potential overhead and the risk that documentation lags behind reality if governance is not kept in sync. Related concepts include living documentation, model-driven design, and knowledge management, which together frame a spectrum of codified knowledge practices.