Shed or Museum: How to Choose Between a Fast MVP and Perfect Architecture

In software development, there is often a dilemma: create a fast but technically imperfect solution (MVP) or strive for perfect architecture. The author analyzes two polar examples from practice. In the first case, a commercially successful service suffers from massive technical debt, requiring constant team effort to maintain functionality. In the second, a technically flawless project was shut down because its development costs significantly exceeded potential profits. The main conclusion is that neither commercial success nor technical perfection guarantees a product's viability. Technical debt is not a moral category, and the choice between speed and quality must be pragmatic. It is important to realize that excessive focus on architectural idealism can lead to losing sight of the product's value to the business, while complete disregard for code quality creates risks for long-term scaling.