Handling Third Party Dependencies in MVP Software Engineering

Introduction

In the fast-paced world of today's software development, MVP projects rely heavily on third-party integrations and dependencies to deliver value as soon as possible. Such third-party services are APIs, libraries, frameworks, and SaaS tools, allowing teams to speed up their development and focus on core competencies. However, such dependencies come with their own challenges and risks.

In this blog, we will discuss the role that third-party dependencies play in the software engineering of an MVP, weigh their advantages against their disadvantages, and show strategies on how you manage and plan the dependency structure of your product's future.

What Are Third-Party Dependencies in MVP Development?

Third-party dependencies refer to libraries, APIs, or services one may include with his/her software to generate particular functionalities rather than write the functionalities from scratch. Dependencies play a crucial role in MVPs because one saves on time, which cuts on cost, with quick prototyping.

Common third-party dependencies include:

• Payment Gateways (e.g., Stripe, PayPal): For processing transactions.
• Authentication Services (e.g., OAuth, Firebase): To handle secure user authentication.
• Cloud Storage (e.g., AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage): For scalable data storage.
• Analytics Tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel): To track user behaviour and gather insights.
• Communication APIs (e.g., Twilio, SendGrid): For messaging and email functionalities.

Advantages of Third-Party Dependencies in MVP Projects

1. Speed of Development

Third-party tools and services help speed up development time as teams can focus on the core features and depend on proven solutions for non-core functionalities.

2. Cost Efficiency

Developing intricate functionalities in-house is often costly and time-consuming. Third-party solutions offer an alternative with cost efficiency.

3. Access to Expertise

Many third-party vendors are industry leaders in their domain. When you integrate their solutions, you benefit from their expertise and have access to high-quality features.

4. Scalability and Reliability

Established third-party services come with built-in scalability and reliability, ensuring your MVP can handle growing user demands.

Disadvantages of Third-Party Dependencies in MVP Projects

While the benefits are significant, third-party dependencies come with certain risks and challenges:

1. Vendor Lock-In

Too much reliance on a single third-party provider leads to vendor lock-in, which can make it challenging to switch to alternatives or build in-house solutions later.

2. Downtime and Reliability Risks

Service outages or downtime on the provider’s end can directly impact your application’s performance.

3. Security Risks

Sharing sensitive data or access credentials with external services can pose security risks.

4. Limited Customisation

Third-party solutions may not always fit your specific business needs, limiting flexibility.

5. Compliance Issues

Working with third-party services, especially in regulated industries, bring along with them compliance and legal risks.

Types of Dependency Strategies in MVPs

Fully Dependent on Third-Party Solutions

At the MVP stage, one often finds it necessary to be completely dependent on third-party integrations to shorten development time and reduce costs. Some examples include:

• Using Firebase for authentication and database management.
• Integrating Stripe for payments.

Advantages: Rapid time-to-market and low development overhead.

Challenges: Higher dependency on third-party providers for core functionalities.

Hybrid Approach

When the product matures, teams may decide to develop core functionalities in-house while retaining non-core functionalities with third-party services.

• Example: Maintaining internal user management while using third-party analytics tools like Mix panel.

Advantages: Balances flexibility with development efficiency.

Challenges: Needs additional engineering resources to shift core functionalities.

Fully Independent

Eventually, some organisations choose to eliminate all third-party dependencies, building everything in-house to retain full control.

Advantages: Maximum customisation and control.

Challenges: High initial development costs and time.

Managing Third-Party Dependencies

1. Dependency Mapping

Create a detailed map of all third-party services in use, their roles, and criticality to the application.

Tools to Use: Anchore Grype, CycloneDX.

2. Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

Negotiate SLAs with third-party providers to ensure reliable service delivery and support during critical times.

3. Monitoring and Alerts

Set up monitoring and alerting systems to track the health of third-party services and be proactive about outages.

Tools to Use: Prometheus, Datadog.

4. Chaos Engineering

Test the resilience of your system by simulating failures in third-party dependencies.

Tools to Use: Gremlin, Chaos Monkey.

5. Plan for Transition

Whether transitioning from third-party to in-house or switching providers, plan for smooth transitions by maintaining documentation and modularising your codebase.

Future Planning for Dependency Management

The long-term approach to third-party dependencies should be aligned with your product's goals and growth strategy. Here are two possible plans:

Plan A: Continued Dependence on Third Parties

• Third-party providers can be used for non-core features while scaling the business.
• Providers are regularly evaluated to ensure they meet the growing needs.

Plan B: Transition to In-House Solutions

• Gradually build in-house solutions for critical features.
• Third-party solutions are retained for non-critical or supplementary functionalities.

Pro Tip: Choose the plan that aligns with your long-term scalability, security, and cost goals.

Key Takeaways

• Third-party dependencies accelerate MVP development but come with risks that must be managed proactively.
• Evaluate the trade-offs between speed, cost, and control when integrating third-party services.
• Develop a clear strategy for managing dependencies, including mapping, monitoring, and fallback planning.
• Plan for the future by balancing third-party reliance with in-house development.

By carefully considering third-party dependencies in your MVP, you can create more reliable, scalable, and secure products that deliver value to your users while also leaving room for future flexibility.