Most software teams are drowning in complexity—but with your help, we can change that story.

In my latest episode of Code and Optimism, I share a little-known secret: modular design, when done right, isn’t just for architects or the early stages of a project. It’s something every developer should be doing every day. I call it Organic Modular Design—a real-world approach where modules grow naturally as the code evolves.

Here’s the kicker: if we’re not constantly maximizing modularity—from the project’s inception through the very last code edit—our project’s complexity will spiral out of control. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With a few key principles, we can stop the chaos and keep our codebase healthy and scalable.

The payoff? Logarithmic complexity scaling instead of the quadratic-scaling mess that kills most projects. Curious? This episode might just change the way you code forever.

As always, I don't claim to have all the answers. Anyone who says they do is either a fool or is selling something. For my part, I'm always trying to learn how to solve problems faster with software, and I'd love to learn with you. Send some feedback my way. Let's talk!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Modular Design

00:55 Organic Modular Design (OMD)

02:12 The Modular Life Cycle

02:49 DRY Principle and Function Modules

04:43 File and Folder Modules

07:46 Encapsulation and Interface

17:07 Packaging Modules

23:58 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Tool Recommendations

• Monorepo tooling: @art-suite/monorepo

Related Episodes

• E12: Complexity Fighting Super Powers https://youtu.be/cj81OhXpQCU
• E13: The 5 Essential Elements of Modular Software Design https://youtu.be/V_mOC8I86ic

Related Blog post:

• The 5 Essential Elements of Modular Software Design https://medium.com/@shanebdavis/the-5-essential-elements-of-modular-software-design-6b333918e543

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