Fast Sofa

A "Fast Sofa" is a humorous and often self-deprecating term used within software development, particularly in Agile environments. It refers to the practice of quickly building a very basic, functional, and unrefined version of a software application or feature. The emphasis is on speed and validating core functionality, rather than on polished design, comprehensive features, or robust error handling.

The analogy is to a sofa hastily constructed: it serves the primary purpose of providing a place to sit, but might be uncomfortable, aesthetically displeasing, or prone to breaking down.

Key characteristics of a Fast Sofa approach include:

• Rapid Development: The focus is on getting a working prototype as quickly as possible.
• Minimal Features: Only the essential functionalities are implemented.
• Lack of Polish: The user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) are often rudimentary.
• Technical Debt: The code may be hastily written and require significant refactoring later.
• Validation Focus: The primary goal is to test assumptions and gather user feedback early in the development process.

The Fast Sofa approach is often used in conjunction with concepts like Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and Proof of Concept (POC). It allows developers to quickly iterate on ideas, gather user feedback, and pivot if necessary, before investing significant time and resources in a more polished and feature-rich product. It can be a useful strategy for de-risking projects and ensuring that the final product meets the needs of its users. However, it's crucial to acknowledge and address the technical debt accrued during the fast sofa phase to prevent long-term maintainability issues.