incremental-implementation

Break the feature into thin vertical slices where each slice delivers working end-to-end functionality. For each slice, implement the smallest complete piece, run the test suite, verify the build, commit with a descriptive message, then move to the next slice.

Vertical slicing builds one complete path through the stack per increment, such as database plus API plus UI for a single operation. Each slice leaves the system in a working, testable state rather than completing one layer at a time.

Skip this approach for single-file, single-function changes where the scope is already minimal. The increment cycle adds overhead that only pays off when a change touches multiple files or exceeds roughly 100 lines of code.

Use feature flags that default to disabled, gating unfinished UI or logic behind an environment variable. This lets you merge small tested increments to the main branch without exposing incomplete work to users.

Mixing refactors with feature changes makes both harder to review and debug, and complicates rollbacks. Each increment should change one logical thing so any single commit can be independently reverted.