📊 Common Patterns Seen in Successful Software Projects

Pattern Description Dogfooding: Creators use their own software heavily, improving it organically. “Thin to Thick” Clients: Many successful apps evolve from simple frontends to more powerful, client-heavy experiences. Adoption Loop: Usage -> Feedback -> Improvement -> More Usage. A positive feedback cycle. Breakouts: A successful internal tool becomes open-source or commercialized (e.g. Kubernetes, VS Code). Core + Plugin Architecture: Keeps the core lean while enabling rich extensibility (e.g., browsers, IDEs). Rewrite moments: Major inflection points often include painful rewrites (Twitter, Slack, etc. all rewrote core systems at scale).