MVC: Mid-Game Moves for Growing Plugins and Thinking Fast Across Domains

MVC (Model, View, Controller) isn’t a strict framework or rule — it’s a way to organize your thinking. You don’t always start with it, and you don’t always need it. It’s most useful once a plugin or codebase has grown past the “just hacking around” stage and small changes start causing big ripples.

My 5 Key Principles for Working with MVC

• Start messy, start fast: Early on, for WLP plugin development, I usually put everything in one PHP file — hooks, logic, views, everything side by side. Quick iteration beats rigid structure at this stage.
• Test before committing: The “all-in-one” file lets you experiment, see if an idea has value, and move fast without worrying about perfect architecture.
• Notice when chaos creeps in: As features pile up, collisions happen, small tweaks start breaking other parts — that’s your signal to refactor.
• Refactor with intent: The goal isn’t following a rule: You don't need specific coding patterns, just putting things in separate files can already help. It’s all clarity, flexibility, and thinking faster across domains.
• Time your move: Too early, and you slow yourself down. Too late, and you’re untangling a mess. Mid-game is where MVC really earns its keep.