Build vs Buy
Phrase · Hacker Culture
Definitions
The decision framework for choosing whether to build a capability internally or purchase, integrate, or adopt it from an external provider. In tech culture build versus buy debates are constant because engineering time, control, and differentiation rarely point in the same direction.
In plain English: The choice between building something yourself or buying/adopting it from elsewhere.
Example: "The identity system debate was classic build vs buy: custom control sounded attractive until the team mapped the real maintenance burden."
Related Terms
- MVP
- Innovation Theater
- Build vs Buy Debate
- Product Lifecycle
- Product Roadmap
- Product Strategy
- Product Vision
- AI Product
- Always Be Shipping
- Code First
- Code Maintenance
- Code Philosophy
- Code Under Pressure
- Cool Factor
- Design Sprint
- Developer Journey
- Development Practice
- Digital First
- Digital Strategy
- Engineering Principles
- Fast Follow
- Feature Voting
- Green Software