Building software that survives version two

Most software is designed to survive launch day — a clean demo, a happy client, a good first impression. The real test comes later, when the second real requirement shows up and the architecture either bends or breaks.

We've found the difference usually comes down to a handful of early decisions: how data is modeled, how much is hard-coded versus configurable, and how much the system assumes about who's using it and how.

None of this means over-engineering for hypothetical futures. It means leaving room — for the requirement you haven't heard yet, from the client who hasn't called yet.