side-project-planning

name	side-project-planning
description	Use this skill when planning a side project, evaluating a product idea, scoping an MVP, thinking through monetization, or deciding what to build. Trigger on keywords: side project, MVP, product idea, monetize, build vs buy, startup idea, indie hacker, what should I build, validate idea.

Side Project Planning

The MVP Mindset

Build the smallest thing that proves the core assumption.

Most side projects fail not because of bad execution but because of unvalidated assumptions. The goal of an MVP is to test the riskiest assumption with the least effort.

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Idea Validation Framework

Before writing a line of code:

1. PROBLEM: Is this a real problem people have?
   - Talk to 5 potential users — do they describe this problem unprompted?

2. SOLUTION FIT: Does your solution actually solve it?
   - Can you describe it in one sentence they immediately understand?

3. WILLINGNESS TO PAY: Will people pay for it?
   - "Would you pay $X/month for this?" is very different from "Would you use this?"

4. DIFFERENTIATION: Why this, not the existing alternatives?
   - What's 10x better than what exists?

5. REACHABILITY: Can you reach the target users?
   - Do you know where they are? Reddit, Slack, conferences, Twitter?

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MVP Scoping Rules

For each feature, ask:

• Is this required for the core value proposition? If no → cut it
• Can this be manual/fake before automating? If yes → fake it first
• Does the user notice if this isn't perfect? If no → ship it rough

The Concierge MVP

Before building the full system, manually do what the software would do:

• Validate demand before automating
• Understand the real workflow before encoding it
• Much faster to iterate on a manual process

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Monetization Models for Developer Tools/AI

Model	Best When	Risk
Freemium	High volume, viral potential	Need large base for conversion
Subscription	Recurring value, ongoing use	Churn management
Usage-based	Variable usage patterns	Revenue unpredictability
One-time	Simple tools, no ongoing cost	No recurring revenue
B2B SaaS	Enterprise buyers, high value	Long sales cycles

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Build vs Buy Decision

Build when:

• This is your core differentiator
• No existing solution fits well enough
• Building it teaches you something critical

Buy/use existing when:

• It's infrastructure (auth, payments, email)
• The time savings are significant
• Your users don't care who built it

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Project Health Checklist

Before investing more time in a side project:

• At least 3 real users (not friends being polite) use it regularly
• At least 1 person has paid or expressed clear willingness to pay
• You can explain the value in one sentence
• You still want to work on it after the initial excitement fades
• You have a realistic path to your first 100 users

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The Personality-Consistent AI Memory Layer (Example Application)

For your specific AI side project idea:

• Core assumption to test: Users want AI that remembers their preferences, style, and context consistently across conversations
• Riskiest assumption: Users will pay for this over using free ChatGPT memory
• MVP: A simple wrapper that stores and injects user context — no fancy UI needed to test the core value
• Validation step: 10 users using it for 30 days. Do they return? Do they pay $5/mo?