Open core is worse than plugins... and that’s why it’s better

This post introduces and elaborates on the 'Worse is Better' philosophy as applied to GitLab's open core development model. It contrasts this with traditional plugin-based architectures, highlighting the advantages of direct code modification and rapid feedback loops in fostering a more adaptable and ultimately superior product. The author argues that while plugin interfaces are theoretically ideal, they introduce premature abstraction and slow down iteration. GitLab's open core approach, with its 'low fences' rather than 'brick walls,' allows for greater flexibility and faster adaptation to user needs, leading to a more integrated and functional end product.