fundamental applies to something that is a foundation without which an entire system or complex whole would collapse. vital suggests something that is necessary to a thing's continued …

The fundamentals include modularity, anticipation of change, generality and an incremental approach.

noun a basic principle, rule, law, or the like, that serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part. to master the fundamentals of a trade.

Reading, writing, and arithmetic are the fundamentals of education.

a basic principle, rule, law, or the like, that serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part to master the fundamentals of a trade

Bedrock is literally a hard, solid layer of rock underlying the upper strata of soil or other rock. Thus, by extension, it is any foundation or basis. Used literally as early as 1850 in Nelson Kingsley’s …

When asked what the fundamental, or essential, principles of life are, a teenager might reply, "Breathe. Be a good friend. Eat chocolate. Get gas money." Fundamental has its roots in the …

a principle, law, etc, that serves as the basis of an idea or system: teaching small children the fundamentals of road safety the principal or lowest note of a harmonic series

The fundamentals include modularity, anticipation of change, generality and an incremental approach.

One way to enable speed is by distilling complex decisions down to the fundamentals, framing them in simple terms and committing to a decision quickly.