As solutions architects, we often find ourselves at the intersection of innovation and legacy. We’re constantly faced with choices that can lead us toward modern, elegant solutions or the well-worn road of tried-and-tested approaches. A few years ago, I encountered this crossroad when I was asked to lead a Fintech project requiring me to convert a legacy Windows-based platform written in VB.NET to a new web-based solution. The timeline? It was a challenging seven months, with a high-stakes presentation at a major industry conference on the horizon.
Naturally, my first instinct was to look at C#. It’s versatile, widely adopted, and more aligned with modern web-based application frameworks. However, I quickly realized that while C# would bring many long-term benefits, the constraints of the project required a different approach. By choosing VB.NET, despite it being a less popular choice, I could leverage existing code, drastically reduce development time, and focus on hitting that critical milestone without compromising functionality. VB.NET wasn’t my first choice, but it was the right choice to deliver on time.
This experience taught me that the best solution isn’t always the latest one. Sometimes, as architects, we need to balance our ambition for the “new” with the stability of the “old” to meet goals and fulfill the organization’s larger vision. Our role often means holding back the latest tech when it could lead to unnecessary delays and prioritizing the tools to get us across the finish line.
Every project has constraints, be it time, resources, or strategic objectives. Knowing when to innovate and when to rely on proven methods is at the core of what it means to be a solutions architect. And the more we embrace this balance, the more value we can bring to our teams, our projects, and ultimately, to those who rely on our expertise to turn ideas into reality.
Ultimately, we must remember that the purpose of our work is to solve problems, not merely to employ new tools. The real art of architecture lies in choosing the right tool for the job, even if it means setting aside our preferences for the greater good.
