Forward compatibility

Customizations departing from the core-template are a double-edged sword - you can achieve the desired result for your site but you will pay both:

1. the upfront development cost of the customizations and
2. also the later upgrade cost where each customization will need to be reimplemented or retired.

Customizations can also jeopardize future updates, possibly leading to bespoke implementation of new features or bug fixes.

Our advice is that it's best to avoid customizations if at all possible, however if they are required then to be aware of the implications as it needs to frame your internal conversations about the investment.