Rewrite From Scratch
Rewrite From Scratch is a software development approach where an existing system or component is completely re-implemented from the ground up, discarding the original codebase. It involves designing and building a new version without reusing the old code, often to address technical debt, outdated architecture, or performance issues. This methodology is typically considered when incremental refactoring is deemed insufficient or too costly.
Developers should consider a rewrite when the existing codebase has become unmaintainable due to accumulated technical debt, uses obsolete technologies, or has architectural flaws that hinder scalability and new feature development. It is particularly useful for legacy systems where the original design no longer aligns with current business requirements or modern development practices, allowing for a cleaner, more efficient implementation. However, it requires careful risk assessment due to high costs and potential disruption.