Flexibility is one of the most celebrated ideas in software development. We’re told to build systems that are: Extensible Customizable Adaptable to any use case On the surface, that sounds like the right goal. But in practice? Too much flexibility creates fragile systems. The Flexibility Trap Flexible systems promise freedom: “You can do anything” “You’re not locked in” “Customize it however you want” But what actually happens is this: Every developer solves problems differently Patterns drift across the codebase Behavior becomes inconsistent The system becomes harder to understand over time. What Flexibility Really Means When a system is highly flexible, it usually means: Few enforced patterns Minimal constraints Many ways to accomplish the same thing That sounds empowering. But it leads to: Decision fatigue Inconsistent architecture Harder onboarding Slower debugging Freedom without structure becomes chaos. The Alternative: Opinionated Systems Opinionated systems take a different approach.…