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Good Enough Software

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Good Enough Software

I have been there, you have probably been there too. Chasing the perfect solution.
The flawless architecture and approach. Every edge case handled. A codebase that you would be proudly showing off for years to come.

But the truth is: the world does not need perfect. It needs something that works, that brings value to the table and that can change when it has to.

Why "Good Enough" Wins

When was the last time a user praised you for your folder structure?? Exactly.
Users DO NOT care about the elegance of your code. They care if the button works, if their data saves, and if the app feels fast.

And code that ships early beats code stuck in refactor-land every single time. A "good enough" release gives you feedback, data, and the chance to improve.

That "perfect" solution in your head? Zero value until it ships.

Same goes for "future-proofing." That perfect abstraction you built today might be irrelevant tomorrow when the product shifts. Hours sunk into protecting against a future that never came.

The Over-Engineering Trap

Go beyond “good enough” and you risk:

  • Complexity no one asked for. Abstractions only you understand.
  • Delivery delays. It is technically flawless but arrives way too late.
  • Maintenance pain. Ironically, "Perfect" code is often harder to change because it solves imaginary problems.

The Sweet Spot

"Good enough" ≠ sloppy or bad. It does not mean skipping tests, ignoring security, or letting performance slide.
It means effort that matches reality:

  • Test where failure hurts.
  • Refactor when pain is real, not hypothetical.
  • Document what future-you (or a teammate) will actually need.

Final thought

Good enough software gets value out the door today and leaves room for tomorrow. Perfect software? It usually ships late, and when it does, it often solves yesterday's problems.

So before diving into another abstraction or rewrite, stop and ask: Is this already good enough, or does it need improvement?

These are reflections that came to mind, after reading the first chapter of "The Pragmatic Programmer"