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 passes, commit with a descriptive message, then move to the next slice.

Vertical slicing builds one complete path through the entire 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 one hundred lines of code.

Feature flags let you merge incomplete increments to the main branch without exposing unfinished work to users. Gate the new code behind an environment variable or configuration check that defaults to disabled, then enable it when the feature is complete.

Small commits isolate bugs to a specific slice and make rollbacks painless. Mixing a feature, a refactor, and a config change in one commit makes all three harder to review, debug, and revert independently.