Embracing the 3-Month Rule: A Strategic Approach to Unscalable Solutions in Tech Development
In the startup realm, the principle of “doing things that don’t scale,” originally highlighted by Paul Graham, resonates deeply. However, the execution of this advice, particularly in programming and product development, is often overlooked. Having spent the past eight months crafting an AI podcast platform, I’ve stumbled upon an effective framework: giving each unscalable solution a lifespan of just three months. After this time, it either showcases its value for a robust build or is phased out.
Rethinking Scalability in Startup Development
As engineers, the tendency is to prioritize scalable solutions right from the start. We are often consumed by the allure of intricate design patterns and distributed systems capable of serving millions. However, in a startup environment, laying the groundwork for scalability can be a costly form of procrastination—engineering for potential users who may never materialize while still grappling with present challenges.
This 3-month strategy compels me to opt for straightforward and intentionally “imperfect” code that can be deployed quickly, providing essential insights into user needs and platform functionality.
My Current Non-Scalable Innovations
1. Consolidated Operations on a Single Virtual Machine
By housing the database, web server, background jobs, and caching on a single $40/month virtual machine with no redundancy and manual backups, I’ve gained invaluable understanding of my actual resource requirements in just two months. The supposed demand for an expansive Kubernetes architecture quickly dissipated upon realizing my platform’s memory usage peaked at only 4GB RAM. Each crash—yes, I’ve experienced a couple—has yielded critical information about failure points, frequently revealing surprises rather than expected issues.
2. Hardcoded Configurations Everywhere
My strategy involves embedding constants throughout my codebase like so:
python
PRICE_TIER_1 = 9.99
PRICE_TIER_2 = 19.99
MAX_USERS = 100
AI_MODEL = "gpt-4"
This approach eliminates complex configuration management systems, making it easy to locate and adjust configurations with just a simple command. With most configuration changes occurring only three times in three months, the time saved is evident—mere minutes spent redeploying as opposed to weeks configuring an elaborate service.
3. Leveraging SQLite in Production
Despite its limitations, I’ve opted for SQLite for my web app, boasting a 47MB database that comfortably
One Comment
This post offers a refreshing perspective on balancing rapid experimentation with strategic planning, especially in the fast-paced startup environment. The “3-Month Rule” is a practical framework that encourages entrepreneurs and developers to prioritize learning and iteration over premature optimization for scalability. I particularly appreciate the emphasis on embracing “imperfect” solutions—like consolidated VMs, hardcoded configs, and SQLite—as valuable tools for gaining real-world insights early on.
This approach aligns well with the concept of the “minimum viable product” (MVP), but extends it into operational experimentation, allowing teams to validate assumptions before investing in complex infrastructure. It also highlights that understanding actual resource needs and user behavior is often more effectively achieved through focused, low-cost experiments rather than complex, scalable architectures from the outset.
One thing to consider as these solutions evolve is planning for clean transitions—whether scaling up after validation or refactoring code—so that technical debt doesn’t accumulate beyond manageability. Overall, this framework can empower teams to iteratively learn and adapt quickly, ultimately leading to more sustainable growth as the product matures.