# From idea to first product

La Développeuse · Sara Ounissi · https://ladeveloppeuse.com

Scope before you code.

For developers and solo builders with an idea and an unclear scope. Turn it into one simple flow you can test.

## 1. Who is it for, and in what situation?

Describe one person and a specific moment. “Everyone” won’t help you choose useful features.

Fictional example: a news curation tool : A developer with twenty minutes for technical reading on Friday.

**To complete :**

…

## 2. What problem have you observed?

Separate observations from assumptions. How does the person handle it today?

Fictional example: a news curation tool : She saves links across several apps and doesn’t know which to read. To check in a conversation.

**To complete :**

…

## 3. What is the smallest useful outcome?

Describe an action the person will complete, without naming a technology.

Fictional example: a news curation tool : Choose a relevant article from five links, each explained in one sentence.

**To complete :**

…

## 4. What is the shortest user flow?

Three to five steps, from arrival to outcome: your first test scenario.

Fictional example: a news curation tool : Open the selection → read summaries → choose a link → read the article.

**To complete :**

…

## 5. What belongs in V1, and what waits?

Keep what makes the flow possible. Name the tempting features you’re leaving out for now.

Fictional example: a news curation tool : V1: five links, summaries and a date. Later: accounts, bookmarks and personalised recommendations.

**To complete :**

…

## 6. What data and checks do you need?

Where does information come from? What could be wrong? Include errors and empty states to handle.

Fictional example: a news curation tool : Hand-picked links. Check URLs, dates, duplicates, mobile readability and the empty-selection message.

**To complete :**

…

## 7. What test will help you decide what comes next?

Choose a realistic test. Define what you’ll observe and what would make you change the idea before building more.

Fictional example: a news curation tool : Show the selection to three people. Observe their choice and understand why. If no link is useful, revisit the selection before building accounts.

**To complete :**

…

## Before using your result

- [ ] I distinguish the observed need from my assumptions.
- [ ] V1 supports one useful end-to-end flow.
- [ ] I know what feedback would make me change the scope.

## Your next step

Choose one action: talk to someone, sketch the flow or prepare a manual test. If you use AI, give it this scope and ask for its assumptions before asking for code.