Which of the following principles should guide the design of a scalable application architecture?

Designing for future needs regardless of current requirements is essential in creating a scalable application architecture. This principle ensures that the architecture is not just a response to the immediate requirements but also considers potential growth and evolving business demands. By anticipating future needs, developers can incorporate flexibility and extensibility in the design, making it easier to implement changes and scale the application as necessary without needing a complete overhaul. This foresight can save time and resources in the long run, as it mitigates the risks of rework and allows for smoother adaptations to unforeseen market changes or new technology.

Prioritizing speed of deployment over maintainability can lead to technical debt, affecting the application's long-term health. Minimizing external dependencies can simplify an architecture, but it may not always be the most effective strategy for scalability, especially when some external services are essential for performance or functionality. Encouraging frequent changes to production for rapid feedback is a great practice for agile environments, but without a solid architecture that anticipates future needs, frequent changes could lead to instability and complexity in the system.