You Aren't Gonna Need It
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
"You won't need it." Unless it is truly needed now, do not write code or add features. It opposes over-engineering for "possible future extensibility." Scaffolding role: presentism. When building products or planning life, cut out all features and skills that "might be needed later." Future needs are unpredictable; 90% of current "preparation" will become future "technical debt."
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
Presentism. When building products or planning life, cut out all features and skills that "might be needed later." Future needs are unpredictable; 90% of current "preparation" will become future "technical debt."
Anchor fast decisions
Do not add features/code that are not needed now for "possible future" use, avoiding over-engineering and technical debt. Needs change; 90% of current preparation becomes burden. It advocates evolving based on real needs rather than predictive accumulation.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/4Practice this model in one real situation:
account_treeGenealogyexpand_more
menu_bookReferencesexpand_more
Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_aren%27t_gonna_need_itverified
PRIVATE NOTES · Only visible to you
SAVED Q&A
ENTRY Q&A · Private saving available
Ask with a clear boundary
thinkingmodels answers from published entry context only.
Your question is sent to thinkingmodels. The answer uses public entry context only.
RELATED MODELS