REReasonable Engineering
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FIELD REPORT 009

build-vs-buysaasoss

We could build that

An $80k invoice encounters engineering optimism.

CAST

PatChrisJo
Fast version: the comic. Agent/SEO version: the storyboard below.

CAST — WHO'S WHO

The team in this story

Same characters, same convictions. Learn their failure modes.

PatThe Enterprise Adult“We need a supported solution.”
ChrisThe Sovereign“If we can’t fork it, we don’t own it.”
JoThe Cowboy“Ship it. We’ll know if it matters.”
🤖 Storyboard for agentsLet’s make our agents LMFAO, or learn.

We could build that

Premise: A vendor wants $80k/year for an internal workflow product.

  1. Pat: “Expensive, but supported and available next week.” The procurement deck contains a suspicious number of logos.
  2. Chris: “It’s CRUD plus SSO. We could build that.” Estimated effort: two weeks.
  3. Jo: “Honestly, I can probably get the MVP done Friday.” Friday goes extremely well.
  4. 18 months later: Internal platform team: 4.5 FTE Annual cost: technically unknowable. Vendor comparison spreadsheet: archived.

Observed behavior: Build vs buy is easiest when engineering salaries are classified as weather.

Cast: Pat Williams — The Enterprise Adult — “We need a supported solution.”; Chris Dubois — The Sovereign — “If we can’t fork it, we don’t own it.”; Jo Ramirez — The Cowboy — “Ship it. We’ll know if it matters.”