prototype

Prototype Workflow

Structured path from idea → working MVP. Most side projects die in "where do I even start" — this is the scaffolding. Discard it once momentum exists.

Boundary: use ideation when the user wants to think, compare, stress-test, or write planning artifacts. Use this skill when they want to build.

Ask — Calibrate seriousness

Ask first. The answer changes everything.

"Is this a quick side project or something you want to take seriously?"

• Side project / weekend hack: skip formality, move fast, architecture is a one-liner, deployment is optional for now.
• Serious startup / real product: run all phases with full depth.

Cut — Define the smallest usable v1

3 questions max. Don't proceed until all 3 have clear answers.

1. Who is this for? (specific person/role, not "everyone")
2. What's the one thing it does? (if you need "and", it's two products)
3. What does "done" look like for v1? (the minimum that a real user could actually use)

If the user can't answer #2 without "and", help them cut.

Choose — Pick the fastest credible stack

Recommend based on project type and stated skills. Offer 2 options with honest trade-offs — don't just list everything.

Web app (default for solo dev speed):

• Next.js + Vercel — fastest from zero to deployed, great DX, edge-ready
• SvelteKit + Vercel — smaller bundle, less ecosystem, better if React fatigue

API / backend:

• Hono + Bun — fast, minimal, TypeScript-first, great for side projects
• FastAPI — Python, better if the user has ML or data science adjacent work

Mobile:

• Expo (React Native) — ship to iOS + Android from one codebase, Vercel-style DX for mobile

CLI:

• Node.js + commander — if the user knows JS
• Python + click or Typer — if the user knows Python

Database (don't overcomplicate v1):

• Turso (libSQL) or Neon (Postgres) + Drizzle ORM — serverless, free tier
• Supabase — if auth + realtime + storage are needed out of the box

State the trade-off plainly: "Next.js is the default because it ships fastest. Use SvelteKit if bundle size is a constraint or you dislike React's mental model."

Shape — Name the minimal architecture

One-paragraph overview only. No architecture astronautics.

Cover:

• Data model (3–5 entities max for v1)
• Key routes or components
• Auth approach (no auth / magic link / OAuth — pick based on audience)

If the user is over-engineering, say so: "You don't need a message queue for an MVP with 10 users."

Build — Hand off or implement with acceptance criteria

Implementation must include:

• One-sentence product goal
• V1 scope and explicit non-goals
• Stack decision and rationale
• Data model
• Required routes/screens
• Validation commands
• Definition of done

Set up in order: repo → CI if needed → core feature → README. If implementation is delegated or done later, pass the bullets above as the handoff; if implementing now, use them as the acceptance criteria.

Verify — Prove the MVP is shippable

Before declaring done:

• Env vars not committed (.env in .gitignore)
• Domain configured (or Vercel preview URL is fine for MVP)
• Basic error monitoring considered for serious products
• Rate limiting considered for public endpoints
• Analytics considered if user data matters
• README with one-liner description and setup instructions

Skip items that don't apply to a side project, but report what was skipped.

Completion Criteria

Do not declare the prototype complete until:

• V1 scope is 3–5 user-visible capabilities max.
• Stack choice includes one recommended option and one rejected alternative.
• Architecture names the core entities, routes/components, and auth choice.
• Implementation has either been completed or handed off with explicit acceptance criteria.
• Validation commands have run, or failures are reported honestly.
• Final response includes repo path, run command, and deployment URL if deployed.