Embracing the 3-Month Rule: A Pragmatic Approach to Non-Scalable Solutions
In the world of technology startups, the advice from Paul Graham to “Do things that don’t scale” is often cited but less frequently acted upon. Implementing this principle, particularly in the realm of coding, remains an under-discussed topic.
After dedicating eight months to developing my AI podcast platform, I’ve adopted what I call the “3-Month Rule” as a straightforward framework: every unscalable solution is granted a lifespan of three months. If it demonstrates its value within that time, it will be properly developed; if not, it will be discarded.
As engineers, we are conditioned to construct scalable solutions from the outset—utilizing sophisticated design patterns, microservices, and distributed systems that are engineered to accommodate vast numbers of users. However, this is often a mindset suited for big companies rather than startups. At early-stage ventures, focusing on scalable code can lead to costly procrastination, addressing user needs that might not even exist yet.
My 3-month rule encourages me to create simple, straightforward, and even “bad” code that allows me to launch quickly and gain invaluable insights into what users genuinely require.
Smart Infrastructure Hacks I’ve Implemented:
1. All-Encompassing VM Strategy
I’ve centralized my entire operation—a database, web server, background jobs, and Redis—on a single virtual machine costing $40 per month. While this eliminates redundancy and relies on manual backups, it has provided insights that would have been missed through traditional capacity planning. I’ve found that my platform’s peak usage demands only 4GB of RAM, revealing the impracticality of a complex Kubernetes setup that I initially considered.
2. Hardcoded Configuration
My configuration settings are intentionally hardcoded as constants throughout my codebase. As a result, any changes require a redeployment, but this approach lets me quickly find and track configuration values through version control history. Over three months, I’ve made only three configuration changes, translating to a mere 15 minutes of redeployment time—far superior to the 40 hours it would have taken to develop a dedicated configuration service.
3. Using SQLite for Production
Yes, I chose SQLite for a multi-user application. With a humble database size of 47MB, it’s capable of handling 50 concurrent users effortlessly. This experience taught me that my access patterns consist of 95% reads and only 5
One Comment
Great insights on balancing speed and scalability in early-stage development! The 3-Month Rule reminds me of the concept of “release early, release often,” emphasizing the importance of quick iterations to validate assumptions. I particularly appreciate your approach to intentionally using simple, even “bad” code—it’s a practical way to avoid paralysis by over-engineering.
Your example of using SQLite for a multi-user environment highlights an important lesson: choosing technology based on current needs rather than future scalability fears can save time and resources early on. It’s often more valuable to understand user behaviors and needs through rapid deployment than to invest heavily in infrastructure prematurely.
Additionally, your VM strategy consolidates cost-effective experimentation—sometimes, a single resource can yield more actionable insights than complex setups. Embracing these pragmatic, non-scalable solutions for a limited time allows teams to learn fast and pivot without significant sunk costs.
Overall, this mindset fosters agility, keeps the focus on solving real problems, and tempers the tendency toward premature optimization—a valuable perspective for any startup engineer. Thanks for sharing your experience!