Embracing the 3-Month Rule: A Pragmatic Approach to Non-Scalable Solutions in Software Development

In the startup ecosystem, efficiency and adaptability often take precedence, especially when competing against larger, established companies. One piece of advice from entrepreneur Paul Graham resonates strongly: “Do things that don’t scale.” While this advice is widely acknowledged, the practical application in software development can often be overlooked.

After eight months of building my AI podcast platform, I’ve devised a straightforward framework that centers on a 3-month evaluation period for all unscalable solutions. The idea is simple: every hack that lacks scalability has three months to demonstrate its value. If it proves beneficial within this timeframe, it earns the opportunity for refinement; otherwise, it is discarded.

As engineers, we frequently lean towards constructing “scalable” solutions from the outset. This includes intricate design patterns and distributed systems that are capable of accommodating millions of users. However, this kind of grand-scale thinking can prove counterproductive in a startup environment where your user base may still be in its infancy.

Understanding the 3-Month Rule

In essence, my 3-month rule compels me to create straightforward, albeit imperfect, code. This approach allows me to ship quickly and gain invaluable insights into user needs. Let’s explore some of my current infrastructure hacks and why they reflect a strategic mindset rather than recklessness.

1. Consolidation on a Single VM

My entire stack—database, web server, background jobs, and caching—operates on a single virtual machine costing just $40 a month without redundancy. While some may label this as risky, it has provided me with genuine insights into my resource requirements. Within two months, I comprehended that my AI-driven platform only requires 4GB of RAM at peak times.

When the system crashes (which has happened), I gather invaluable data about failure points, often revealing unexpected vulnerabilities.

2. Hardcoded Configuration

Constants like “PRICE_TIER_1 = 9.99” are littered throughout my code without separate config files or environment variables. Sure, modifying a constant means redeploying the entire application, but the benefits are noteworthy. I can quickly search through my codebase to track changes, with every update logged for accountability. This practice has saved me countless hours compared to the week it would take to establish a configuration management solution that I barely need.

3. Employing SQLite in Production

For a multi