Codebase Stewardship

Make the next change fit the codebase that already exists.

Learn the Local Pattern First

Before adding new behavior, inspect nearby or similar code for:

• Naming style and domain vocabulary.
• File placement and public exports.
• Data flow and state ownership.
• Error handling and validation style.
• Test style and fixture conventions.
• Existing extension points or abstractions.

Prefer the local pattern even when another pattern would be reasonable in isolation.

Avoid Parallel Systems