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

What this post added

This post articulates and defends GitLab's 'open core' development strategy, drawing parallels to Richard P. Gabriel's 'Worse is Better' concept. It highlights the advantages of direct code access for faster iteration and feedback, contrasting it with the complexities and slower feedback loops of traditional plugin architectures. The post emphasizes that while strict API boundaries are absent, the 'low fences' of pull request reviews and a solid architectural foundation (like Ruby on Rails) ensure quality and integration.