The app brief

The one idea

Before any build prompt, write a one-page app brief:

• User — who opens this app?
• Problem — what pain does it remove?
• Workflow — what steps from open to done?
• Data — what gets stored; who owns it?
• Success — how will you know it works?

Example skeleton

For team leads who forget follow-ups after standups. Problem: actions get lost in chat. Workflow: log action, owner, due date; mark done. Data: team name, action text, owner, date — no customer PII. Success: standup actions tracked for two weeks without a spreadsheet.

Your win today

Fill the five-part brief for your chosen first app before asking AI to build anything.