Opinionated Design
Opinionated design is a software development approach where tools, frameworks, or systems enforce specific conventions, patterns, and best practices by design, reducing flexibility in favor of consistency and productivity. It guides developers toward a 'right way' of doing things, often through built-in defaults and constraints. This contrasts with unopinionated approaches that offer more freedom but require more decisions from developers.
Developers should use opinionated design when working on projects that benefit from rapid development, team consistency, and reduced decision fatigue, such as in startups, large teams, or standardized applications like CRUD apps. It is particularly valuable for beginners or when adopting new technologies, as it provides a clear path forward and minimizes configuration overhead. However, it may be less suitable for highly customized or experimental projects where flexibility is critical.