How to Structure a Codebase for Scale and Maintainability
This article explores when and how to design a scalable codebase, balancing speed, simplicity, and long-term maintainability. It explains why startups should avoid over-engineering early, how large companies must optimize for developer collaboration, and what to do when a legacy codebase “works” but is hard to evolve. Using real-world examples from companies like Google, Amazon, Twitter, and Facebook, it offers practical guidance on refactoring, managing technical debt, and building a flexible foundation that can grow without slowing teams down.