Embracing the 3-Month Rule: A Practical Approach to Non-Scalable Solutions in Tech Development
In the world of startups and tech development, a well-known piece of advice from Paul Graham resonates: “Do things that don’t scale.” Yet, when it comes to implementation—especially in coding—few discuss actionable frameworks. After months of developing my AI podcast platform, I’ve formulated a straightforward method: every unscalable approach receives a mere three months to prove its worth. If it doesn’t deliver results by then, it’s time to move on.
As engineers, we are often conditioned to aim for scalable solutions from the outset. We get caught up in complex design patterns, microservices, and distributed systems—all designed to cater to millions of users. However, this mindset can be counterproductive for startups, where such complexity may act as an expensive form of procrastination. By optimizing for hypothetical users and problems, we risk stalling our actual learning and product evolution. My three-month rule compels me to write simple, direct code that gets shipped, effectively clarifying what users truly require.
My Current Infrastructure Hacks: A Smart Approach to Learning
1. Unified VM Deployment
Currently, all components of my platform—database, web server, background jobs, and Redis—operate on a single $40/month virtual machine (VM). There’s no redundancy, and backups are manually made to my local machine.
This approach has proven invaluable. In just two months, I’ve gained more insights into my resource needs than I ever could through extensive capacity planning. My platform, which I originally deemed “AI-heavy,” peaks at only 4GB of RAM. The complex Kubernetes architecture I nearly set up would have just been a burden, maintaining empty containers. When the server crashes (as it has on two occasions), I receive genuine feedback about what fails—often elements I never anticipated.
2. Hardcoded Configurations
Instead of utilizing extensive config files or environment variables, I keep my configurations simple and direct, such as:
python
PRICE_TIER_1 = 9.99
PRICE_TIER_2 = 19.99
MAX_USERS = 100
AI_MODEL = "gpt-4"
This structure allows for rapid value changes through a straightforward redeployment process. With configurations embedded as constants throughout the codebase, I can instantly search for any value and monitor changes via git history. I’ve only adjusted these values three times in
One Comment
This post offers a compelling perspective on the importance of flexibility and rapid iteration in early-stage development. The “3-Month Rule” is a pragmatic approach—it prioritizes action and learning over premature optimization and over-engineering, which are common pitfalls for startups aiming to scale prematurely.
Your emphasis on keeping infrastructure and configurations simple resonates deeply, as simplified setups often facilitate faster feedback loops and reduce unnecessary complexity. Sometimes, full-scale architecture and microservices can be a distraction when the primary goal is understanding user needs and validating assumptions.
Additionally, I find the approach of measuring success within a strict timeframe — three months — to be a valuable discipline. It encourages focus, accountability, and a mindset that views setbacks as part of the learning journey rather than failures.
Would be interesting to see how this approach evolves as your platform gains more users, and at what point you might revisit and potentially scale your architecture. Overall, a great reminder that sometimes, doing less now sets the stage for smarter scaling later.