1.2 Scoping the Problem
Time: ~30 minutes
What You'll Learn
- How to identify problems that are worth solving with software
- The difference between a good first project and a bad one
- How to scope ruthlessly so you actually finish
- How to write a one-paragraph project brief your AI can work from
Key Concepts
The number one reason first projects fail is scope. People try to build too much. A client portal with invoicing, scheduling, messaging, file sharing, and analytics is not a first project. A simple intake form that emails you when someone submits it -- that is a first project.
What Makes a Good First Project
Your project should be:
- Something you do every week -- Not a nice-to-have. Something that wastes your time regularly.
- One clear workflow -- Not five features. One thing, done well.
- Replaceable by a spreadsheet (badly) -- If you are currently using a spreadsheet, email, or sticky notes to solve this, it is a perfect candidate.
- Low stakes -- Do not build something where a bug costs you money on day one. Start with internal tools or simple public forms.
Examples of Good First Projects
- A contact form that saves submissions to a database and emails you
- An appointment request page where clients pick a date and describe their need
- A simple inventory tracker where you log items and see what is running low
- A feedback form for customers that organizes responses by category
- A team task board where people claim and complete simple tasks
Examples of Bad First Projects
- A full e-commerce store with payments, shipping, and inventory
- A social media platform
- Anything requiring real-time chat or video
- Anything with complex user permissions (admin, manager, viewer, etc.)
How to Start
Tell your AI assistant:
I need help scoping my first app project. Here's my situation:
- I run a [type of business]
- The problem I want to solve is [describe it]
- Right now I handle it by [current method]
- The people who would use this app are [who]
Help me scope this down to something I can build in a few hours.What's Next
In lesson 1.3, you will choose the specific tools (framework, database, hosting) for your project. Your AI will recommend the right stack based on what you are building.