The original title is "Architecture-first vs problem-first: what five months of over-engineering looks like"

Short summary

A developer reflects on five months building Zeri, a TUI multi-language REPL with a C++23 engine and Go frontend connected via a custom binary IPC protocol. The project works flawlessly but lacks a compelling reason for anyone to use it. The author ships it anyway, framing the gap between building well and building something needed as the project's most valuable lesson.

• •Built Zeri: a TUI multi-language REPL with C++23 engine, Go frontend, custom binary IPC
• •Five months of over-engineering produced a working tool with no clear user need
• •Key lesson: architecture-first without problem-first creates a gap between quality and relevance

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