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Rewriting without a map

Shipping an MVP from a legacy app

Joel Clermont
Joel Clermont
2025-11-03

More than once we have encountered the messy reality of rebuilding a decade-old system: stale specs, missing specs, and stakeholders who want "the same… but better."

In the latest episode of the No Compromises podcast, we share a lightweight framework for agreeing on an MVP, tagging "post-MVP" ideas, and negotiating trade-offs while still making progress.

We walk through practical tactics for parallelizing work and learning as you go.

  • 00:00 Rebuilding an old system without copying its flaws
  • 02:00 Two extremes: too many specs or none at all
  • 03:00 MVP tension: ship value vs. future wishes
  • 04:45 Define MVP, capture unknowns as post-MVP tickets
  • 05:30 Build the first slice and learn
  • 07:00 Code foundations while refining scope
  • 08:30 Trade-offs as collaboration, not confrontation
  • 09:30 Takeaway: progress, check-ins, iterate together -10:00 Silly bit

Listen Now (12 min)

And after listening, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, so you don't miss future episodes.

Here to help,

Joel

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