Step 1 of 8

Idea & Requirements

Before writing any code, you need to know what you are building. This step will help you define your idea clearly so AI can help you build it.

Start with the problem

Every good app solves a problem. Before you think about features, ask yourself:

  • What problem am I solving?
  • Who has this problem?
  • How are they solving it today?
  • Why would they use my solution instead?

Write down your answers. You will use them when talking to AI about your project.

Tip: If you cannot explain the problem in one sentence, your idea might be too broad. Narrow it down.

Define your MVP

MVP stands for Minimum Viable Product. It is the smallest version of your app that still solves the core problem.

Most first-time builders make the same mistake: they try to build everything at once. This leads to projects that never ship.

Instead, pick the one feature that matters most. Build that first. Everything else can come later.

Example: Task Manager App

Full vision: A task manager with projects, tags, due dates, recurring tasks, team collaboration, calendar sync, mobile apps, notifications, and analytics.

MVP: A simple list where you can add tasks and mark them as done. That is it.

Write user stories

User stories describe what your users will do with your app. They follow a simple format:

As a [type of user], I want to [do something], so that [benefit].

For your MVP, write 3-5 user stories. No more. These will guide your development and help AI understand what you need.

Example user stories for a task manager
  • As a user, I want to add a new task, so that I can remember what I need to do.
  • As a user, I want to mark a task as complete, so that I can track my progress.
  • As a user, I want to see all my tasks in a list, so that I know what is left to do.
  • As a user, I want to delete a task, so that I can remove things I no longer need.

Checklist: Are you ready?

Before moving to the next step, make sure you can answer these questions:

What you will tell AI

When you start building, you will describe your project to AI. Here is a template you can use:

I want to build a [type of app] that helps [target users] to [solve problem].

The MVP should include:
- [Feature 1]
- [Feature 2]
- [Feature 3]

User stories:
1. As a user, I want to [action], so that [benefit].
2. As a user, I want to [action], so that [benefit].
3. As a user, I want to [action], so that [benefit].

This is my first version. I will add more features later.

The clearer your description, the better AI can help you. Vague requests lead to vague results.