"Not Invented Here" Syndrome: The Fun, Fast-Track to Software Chaos

Ah, "Not Invented Here" Syndrome, or as I like to call it, the software engineer's favorite excuse to reinvent the wheel—except this time with more corners.

For those blissfully unaware, "Not Invented Here" (NIH) Syndrome is that delightful phenomenon where developers and project managers decide that no existing solution—no matter how polished, proven, or perfect—is good enough for their project. Why use a battle-tested library when you can roll out your own buggy, half-baked version in just a few sprints? Genius!

via GIPHY


The Dangers of NIH: Welcome to the House of Cards

The dangers of NIH Syndrome are about as subtle as a sledgehammer.

  • Time and Resources: NIH convinces teams that it's worth burning through weeks (or months!) recreating something that already exists.
  • Quality: I don't care how many years you've been slinging code—chances are, your team isn't going to build a better version of a tool than an open-source community with hundreds of contributors.
  • Technical Debt: NIH Syndrome loves technical debt like a dog loves bacon.

Impact on Team Productivity and Morale: Welcome to the Dark Side

NIH Syndrome doesn't just destroy timelines and codebases; it also nukes productivity and morale.

  • Demotivation: Imagine being that poor developer tasked with building something from scratch, knowing full well there's a perfectly good solution out there.
  • Isolation: When your team shuns external solutions, it effectively cuts itself off from a vast ecosystem of community support, documentation, and updates.

How to Address NIH Syndrome: The Antidote

  • So, how do we cure NIH Syndrome? It starts with education and humility.
  • Admit it!: Get the team to admit that, just maybe, they're not the smartest people on the planet.
  • Decision-making frameworks: Before any build-vs-buy decision, require a thorough evaluation of existing solutions.
  • Reward Pragmatism: Celebrate the time saved and the value delivered when a developer suggests using an existing tool or library.

In Conclusion: Don’t Be That Guy

"Not Invented Here" Syndrome is a self-inflicted wound that can cripple a team’s productivity and morale. It’s the enemy of efficiency, the bringer of burnout, and the creator of chaos.

Next time you’re tempted to build something from scratch just because you can, take a step back and ask yourself: Do I really want to be that guy?

In the end, the best solution might just be the one you didn’t invent.