--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Build what you need as you need it…" description: "\"“Build what you need as you need it, aggressively refactoring as you go along; don't spend a lot of time planning for grandiose, unknown future scenari..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/jeff-atwood-35039_time_build-what-you-need-as-you-need-it-aggre_1898376.jpg" --- # Build what you need as you need it, aggressively… ![“Build what you need as you need it, aggressively refactoring as you go along; don't spend a lot of time planning for grandiose, unknown future scenarios. Good software can evolve into what it will ultimately become.” quote by Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/jeff-atwood-35039_time_build-what-you-need-as-you-need-it-aggre_1898376.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/jeff-atwood-35039_time_build-what-you-need-as-you-need-it-aggre_1898376.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/jeff-atwood-35039_time_build-what-you-need-as-you-need-it-aggre_1898376.jpg) > ““Build what you need as you need it, aggressively refactoring as you go along; don't spend a lot of time planning for grandiose, unknown future scenarios. Good software can evolve into what it will ultimately become.”” [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Build software incrementally, refactoring as needed, rather than over‑planning for unknown futures. **In simple terms:** Iterate and refactor software. Key Takeaway Embrace adaptive development. Themes software development agile refactoring Mood practical focused Type advice technical When to use this quote - startup product design - team sprints - code reviews Key Concepts lean methodology flexibility technical debt Questions to Reflect On - When is planning essential? - How to balance speed and quality? A Different Perspective Over‑refactoring can cause instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Unknown future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unknown-future/) ## Related quotes > [“To build a fire, you need more wood. To build a team, you need more people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/to-build-a-fire-you-need-more-wood-to-build-a-team-you-need-more/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Once GNU is written, everyone will be able to obtain good system software free, just like air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/once-gnu-is-written-everyone-will-be-able-to-obtain-good-system/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [I believe good software is written by small teams of two, three, or four people interacting with each other at a very high, dense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warnock/i-believe-good-software-is-written-by-small-teams-of-two-three-or/) [John Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warnock/) > [The function of good software is to make the complex appear to be simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grady-booch/the-function-of-good-software-is-to-make-the-complex-appear-to-be/) [Grady Booch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grady-booch/) > [I do read licenses, and they aggravate me, but a computer isn't much good without software. When I need a product, I hold my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/i-do-read-licenses-and-they-aggravate-me-but-a-computer-isn-t-much/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [...One of the most important lessons, perhaps, is the fact that SOFTWARE IS HARD. From now on I shall have significantly greater respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/one-of-the-most-important-lessons-perhaps-is-the-fact-that-software/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [Good software, like wine, takes time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-spolsky/good-software-like-wine-takes-time/) [Joel Spolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-spolsky/) > [The challenge of the unknown future is so much more exciting than the stories of the accomplished past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/the-challenge-of-the-unknown-future-is-so-much-more-exciting-than-the/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Letting go doesn’t just mean letting go of the past, but letting go of an unknown future; and embracing NOW.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/letting-go-doesn-t-just-mean-letting-go-of-the-past-but-letting-go-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be happy in this world, especially when youth is past, it is necessary to feel oneself not merely an isolated individual whose day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/to-be-happy-in-this-world-especially-when-youth-is-past-it-is/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Dont be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae-2/dont-be-afraid-to-trust-an-unknown-future-to-a-known-god/) Nikkie\_mae > [Activism is not a journey to the corner store. It is a plunge into the unknown. The future is always dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/activism-is-not-a-journey-to-the-corner-store-it-is-a-plunge-into-the/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“Be bold. Find the courage to dream lofty dreams of what you wish to attain. Dream big and wide. Dreaming is healthy for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machel-shull/be-bold-find-the-courage-to-dream-lofty-dreams-of-what-you-wish-to/) [Machel Shull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machel-shull/) > [What are the facts? Again and again and again – what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget what “the stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-are-the-facts-again-and-again-and-again-what-are-the-facts-shun/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many live in dread of what is coming. Why should we? The unknown puts adventure into life. ... The unexpected around the corner gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/many-live-in-dread-of-what-is-coming-why-should-we-the-unknown-puts/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) ## More by Jeff Atwood > [If you don't have people that care about usability on your project, your project is doomed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/if-you-don-t-have-people-that-care-about-usability-on-your-project/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) > [“Don't be the guy telling everyone what to do. Be the guy asking all the questions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/don-t-be-the-guy-telling-everyone-what-to-do-be-the-guy-asking-all/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) > [“Success is rarely determined by the quality of your ideas. But it is frequently determined by the quality of your execution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/success-is-rarely-determined-by-the-quality-of-your-ideas-but-it-is/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) > [In software, we rarely have meaningful requirements. Even if we do, the only measure of success that matters is whether our solution solves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/in-software-we-rarely-have-meaningful-requirements-even-if-we-do-the/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) > [Writing code? That's the easy part. Getting your application in the hands of users, and creating applications that people actually want to use -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/writing-code-that-s-the-easy-part-getting-your-application-in-the/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) > [The whole HTML validation exercise is questionable, but validating as XHTML is flat-out masochism. Only recommended for those that enjoy pain. Or programmers. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/the-whole-html-validation-exercise-is-questionable-but-validating-as/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) > [Teaching peers is one of the best ways to develop mastery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/teaching-peers-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-develop-mastery/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) > [“most developers don't test at all! They key in a few values at random and click a few buttons. If they don't get any unhandled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/most-developers-don-t-test-at-all-they-key-in-a-few-values-at-random/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) > [We have to stop optimizing for programmers and start optimizing for users.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/we-have-to-stop-optimizing-for-programmers-and-start-optimizing-for/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) > [You can achieve a shallow local maximum with A/B testing - but you'll never win hearts and minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/you-can-achieve-a-shallow-local-maximum-with-a-b-testing-but-you-ll/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) > [“When given a choice, choose the thing that scares you a little. If it's 100% safe, it is holding you back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/when-given-a-choice-choose-the-thing-that-scares-you-a-little-if-it-s/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) > [“We should always be in pursuit of simplicity, in whatever form it takes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/we-should-always-be-in-pursuit-of-simplicity-in-whatever-form-it-takes/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) [Explore all 13 Jeff Atwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) ## More Technology quotes > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one-in-tech-circles-including/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [“The metaprogrammer who uses one, or especially several, applications as components in a larger system. This is the user whose needs are poorly met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-p-brooks-jr/the-metaprogrammer-who-uses-one-or-especially-several-applications-as/) [Frederick P. Brooks Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-p-brooks-jr/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [“Economic growth continued by means of a succession of new products which found growing and ultimately massive demand. Some of the new products were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-a-hudson/economic-growth-continued-by-means-of-a-succession-of-new-products/) [Edward A. Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-a-hudson/) > [I had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/) [Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) Jen-Hsun Huang > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I just feel like everybody stays on their phone nowadays. People will go to a party and everybody is on their phone, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snow-tha-product/i-just-feel-like-everybody-stays-on-their-phone-nowadays-people-will/) [Snow Tha Product](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snow-tha-product/) > [“If Amazon’s dream of a world without gatekeepers becomes reality, then the company itself will become a powerful gatekeeper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/if-amazon-s-dream-of-a-world-without-gatekeepers-becomes-reality-then/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [Real breakthroughs are not found because you want to develop some new technology, but because you are curious and want to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-zeilinger/real-breakthroughs-are-not-found-because-you-want-to-develop-some-new/) [Anton Zeilinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-zeilinger/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) [Browse all 18,164 Technology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Build what you need as you need it, aggressively refactoring as you go along; don't spend a lot of time planning for grandiose, unknown future scenarios. 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