The Silent Cost of Technical Debt
Why cutting corners in your MVP is costing you more than you think, and how to balance speed with quality.
In the fast-paced world of startups, “move fast and break things” has been the mantra for over a decade. While speed is undeniably critical, the “breaking things” part inevitably leads to a silent killer: Technical Debt.
What is Technical Debt?
Technical debt is the implied cost of additional rework caused by choosing an easy (limited) solution now instead of using a better approach that would take longer. Like financial debt, technical debt compounds.
“Shipping code is like taking out a loan. A little debt speeds delivery, but if you don’t pay it back, the interest enters a death spiral.”
The “MVP” Trap
Many founders confuse an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) with a “Minimum Viable Prototype”.
- A Prototype is for validation. It can be throwaway code.
- A Product is for customers. It needs to be stable, secure, and scalable.
When you build your product on prototype foundations, you’re building a skyscraper on sand.
How We Approach It
At GoodDevs, we believe in sustainable speed.
- Modular Architecture: Build small, independent pieces that can be replaced without rewriting the whole system.
- Automated Testing: Catch regressions before they reach production.
- Documentation: Ensure knowledge isn’t trapped in one person’s head.
You don’t need to over-engineer V1, but you must engineer it correctly.