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Most rewrites serve the engineer, not the business

anatoliybabushka.com

July 1, 2026

5 min read

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44/100

Summary

Rewriting code often prioritizes the preferences of engineers over the needs of the business. A developer transitioned a production application from CakePHP to Laravel, enhancing the project by integrating Illuminate packages during personal time.

Key Takeaways

Most code rewrites serve the engineer's preferences rather than the business's needs, often resulting in no tangible benefits for the company.
Rewriting code can lead to the loss of valuable historical fixes and knowledge embedded in the existing codebase, which can result in recurring issues.
Unfamiliarity with a coding framework does not equate to it being broken; prior developers made choices based on specific use cases and constraints.
Valid reasons for rewriting code include end-of-life dependencies, knowledge loss, excessive costs for new features, and evolving business requirements.

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Community Sentiment

Mixed

Positives

Rewrites often address gaps in functionality and can serve business needs better than maintaining outdated code, highlighting the importance of aligning engineering efforts with business objectives.
Recognizing the difference between good and bad refactoring practices is crucial for engineers, as it can significantly impact project outcomes and business value.

Concerns

Many engineers fall into the trap of unnecessary rewrites, driven by personal preferences rather than actual business needs, which can lead to wasted resources and missed opportunities.
The tendency to rewrite software due to unfamiliarity with the technology rather than genuine necessity indicates a lack of experience and can signal hiring mistakes.