Intro
We know it’s tempting: “We’ll build that component ourselves it’s simple.” The problem is, that component rarely stays simple. Reinventing wheels is a silent drain on time, budget and morale.
The hidden cost of custom build for common problems
- The maintenance burden (bug fixes, edge cases)
- Unexpected complexity (fails once you scale)
- Reinventing features already solved by libraries or platforms
- Opportunity cost (time you weren’t building unique features)
When reuse wins
- Use mature libraries, frameworks, open source projects
- Leverage platform features rather than rebuild
- Use standard protocols and APIs
- Adopt modular design so you can replace components later
Reuse isn’t cheating — it’s smart engineering.
How GGA avoids unnecessary reinvention
- Audit existing tools before building
- Use prebuilt modules when they meet the requirement
- Wrap external systems rather than reimplement
- Maintain a component library for reuse across client projects
An example: notifications
We once had a client who asked us to build a notification engine from scratch. But in almost every project we do, the needs align with tried and tested third‑party systems. We reused a dependable service, built a small wrapper for their unique needs, and saved weeks of work and months of maintenance.
Final thought
Because there’s a wheel somewhere that already works. Don’t build your own unless you absolutely must. Spend your energy on what isn’t solved already.
