The advice to “just ship fast” hasn’t aged well.
What Changed
In 2026:
- Infrastructure costs surface earlier
- Compliance expectations arrive sooner
- AI features raise reliability stakes
Shortcuts break faster than before.
MVP vs Disposable Prototype
An MVP should be:
- Minimal
- Focused
- Extendable
Not:
- Fragile
- Unmaintainable
- Hard to reason about
The Cost of Rewrites
Teams underestimate:
- Lost momentum
- Hidden tech debt
- Engineering morale damage
Rewrites kill startups quietly.
A Better Approach
Build MVPs that:
- Can evolve into production
- Use boring, proven tech
- Avoid irreversible decisions
Final Thoughts
Speed matters — but survivability matters more.