When Done Is Better Than Perfect (Especially in Systems Work)
In automation and architecture, there’s one trap worse than shipping bad code: not shipping at all—because you’re chasing perfect.
“Let’s make it perfect before we ship.”
The Hidden Cost of Perfect
The problem? You never ship.
You refactor. Redesign. Redraw. Polish.
And then momentum stalls. That’s where systems quietly decay—suffocated by theoretical elegance.
What “Perfect” Usually Means
It doesn’t mean better outcomes. It means:
- Imaginary edge cases no one will encounter
- Meetings about meetings and design debates that loop
- Reluctance to touch “finished” systems—even when they need it
In most systems work, perfect is a mirage. The environment’s going to change. The requirements will shift. The people using it will misuse it.
You don’t need perfect—you need something resilient, testable, and ready to grow.
Done Unlocks Real Learning
I’ve shipped MVPs that weren’t elegant—but they worked.
And more importantly:
- They taught us something
- They sparked the next iteration
- They forced real feedback from users
Action exposes reality. Modeling just preserves assumptions.
Sometimes you don’t know what’s broken until you try it in real life.
I’ve learned this lesson the hard way—across years of systems, clients, and shipping imperfect but usable things.
Where I Apply This
1. CyberVault Automation
We’re building in an environment where the hardware barely exists. Waiting for perfect here would be project quicksand. Instead, we’re focusing on:
- Modular, testable pieces
- Clear documentation
- Fast iterations
Ship early. Improve fast. Keep moving.
2. Diagrams, Docs, and Demos
Some of my diagrams are ugly at first.
Some posts feel half-baked when I hit publish.
But done means people can react. And that reaction is what improves it. If I wait for every label, every arrow, every word to be “right,” I’ll miss the window to actually help someone.
Wrapping It Up
Perfection is comforting. But it’s a lie.
At Methodical Cloud, we don’t build perfect systems—we build systems that get better.
Done is how progress happens.
Perfect comes later. Or maybe not at all.
Done systems evolve.
Perfect ones collect dust.
Done systems breathe.
Perfect ones choke.
Want more posts like this? Share your feedback or check out the latest diagrams and episodes.