Hey everyone! I’m a newbie dev about to start a job with a small team. I’ve been checking out the project I’ll be working on and it’s got me thinking.
The app is pretty old, built with Create React App. It’s all JavaScript and SCSS, no TypeScript. There’s no testing set up, just a basic deploy check. The repo is full of hotfix branches and the code quality isn’t great. They don’t even have a design system!
I’m wondering if anyone’s ever decided to scrap everything and start over? What made you choose to do that? How did you convince your team it was worth it?
I’m not saying I want to do this, I’m just curious about when it might make sense. The project isn’t huge, but it feels like it could use some love. What do you think?
man, i’ve been there. total rebuild sounds tempting but can be risky AF. maybe try updating bits n pieces first? like add tests for critical stuff, convert high-traffic components to TS. could pitch it as ‘modernization’ to the bosses. just my 2 cents tho
oh wow, that seems like a huge task! curious, have u considered incrementally adding tests and typescript rather than a full rebuild? it may be less risky. what are the key issues making you think it might need a rewrite?
Rebuilding a frontend project from scratch is a significant undertaking that should only be considered when necessary. In my experience, a major factor is technical debt; if the codebase has become unmanageable from constant quick fixes and poor practices, it may be time to reconsider the approach.
Performance issues also play a critical role, especially if the current architecture is causing slowdowns that cannot be easily resolved. Outdated technology and shifts in business requirements can further complicate maintenance and development efforts.
While these factors may point toward a rebuild, gradual refactoring or modernization often presents a less risky alternative.