When we build software today, it’s tempting to optimize heavily for the present state: make the UI slick, satisfy the current use cases, ship quickly. But what happens when new requirements emerge six months later? Or the data model shifts in an unexpected direction? The mark of sustainable design lies not just in polish, but in adaptability.
The Case for Flexible UI Constructs
Rather than hard-coding rigid layouts, consider adopting composable components: modular widgets, layout containers, adaptive logic. These are the building blocks that make it easier to evolve surfaces over time. In practice:
- Use well-scoped styling variables (e.g. color, spacing) so that theming tweaks ripple cleanly.
- Favor declarative UI layers (React, Vue, SwiftUI, etc.) where possible, so you can reassemble pieces rather than rewrite them.
- Encapsulate interaction patterns (hover, tap, focus) in reusable modules.
By doing so, when a new requirement arrives—say, an inline edit panel or a contextual hint bar—you’re not forced into awkward hacks. The pieces are already built to be recombined.
Evolving Data Model & UX Together
One of the trickiest shifts is when your underlying data model changes (fields, relationships, cardinality). UI built with inflexibility tends to crumble. To guard against that:
- Use bindings or abstraction layers (e.g. view models, adapters) so the UI doesn’t depend directly on raw data shapes.
- Build in graceful handling of missing or extra fields (e.g. fallbacks, safe lookups).
- Design UI flows anticipating unknown future states (no “this screen is only ever X” assumptions).
When to Refactor vs. Rewrite
Often, we face the decision: refactor or rewrite. My rule of thumb:
- Refactor when the core architecture remains sound, modular, and testable.
- Rewrite when the current code is too tangled, the direction is fundamentally changed, or the maintenance debt is crippling.
But even a rewrite should start with modular, composable pieces—carry forward the lessons, not the smell.
In the end, the best UI is one that grows with your product, and doesn’t force you into painful rewrites. By emphasizing modularity, abstraction, and resilient patterns today, you’ll be ready for what tomorrow demands.