Writing
What Breaks First in Large React Codebases
A practical look at the first failure modes in growing React systems and how to avoid expensive cleanup cycles.
Jan 10, 2026·1 min read
ReactArchitectureMaintainability
Most large codebases do not fail because React is hard. They fail because decisions around boundaries, ownership, and conventions remain implicit for too long.
Failure mode 1: unclear module boundaries
When features share state and implementation details freely, local speed improves while system-level complexity grows.
Failure mode 2: component APIs drift
Without API discipline, shared components become grab bags of edge cases.
Failure mode 3: testing strategy fragments
Teams either over-test internals or under-test behavior. Both are expensive.
The fix is not perfection. It is intentional constraints.