Startups, Technical Debt, and Efficiency: A Frontend Engineer's Perspective

Recently I’ve attended several startup presentations and have observed a common trend in the sector: a strong inclination to develop internal solutions (CMS, ERPs, AI wrappers) instead of integrating existing tools. While intellectual property is a valuable asset, this strategy often prioritizes asset creation over operational efficiency, which may not always be the most optimal technical decision.

The strategy of not reinventing the wheel

The open source ecosystem offers mature and robust solutions that, in many cases, surpass proprietary developments made with tight deadlines in performance and stability. Prioritizing “time-to-market” sometimes involves compromises in code quality, resulting in early technical debt that can hinder future scalability.

From an engineering perspective, the real value lies in knowing when to build and when to integrate. Using high-quality free software allows teams to focus on differential business logic instead of maintaining generic infrastructure.

The case of rapidRaw

A notable example of technical efficiency is the rapidRaw project on GitHub. Developed by a young talent, this software demonstrates how an approach focused on optimization and performance can rival established commercial suites.

This case underscores a fundamental principle: technical excellence does not depend on the size of the organization, but on the quality of architecture and execution. While rapid development sometimes results in code that’s difficult to maintain, projects like this remind us that optimization and careful design are investments that pay off in the long term.

Conclusion

The tech industry benefits when we adopt a pragmatic approach. Instead of measuring success only by the amount of proprietary software generated, we should value it by efficiency, sustainability, and the ability to solve real problems. Looking toward Open Source is not just an economic option, it’s an intelligent engineering strategic decision.