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💡 Step 1: Idea Mode

Days 1-2 of your journey

Before you write a single line of code, you need to answer one question: What problem are you solving?

Idea mode helps you find, validate, and refine a problem worth building a solution for.

Purpose​

In Idea mode, 1M Code acts as a product coach. It will:

  • Help you brainstorm problems you could solve
  • Challenge assumptions about your ideas
  • Guide you through customer discovery
  • Ensure you're building something people actually want

When to Use This Mode​

Use Idea mode when:

  • You're starting from scratch and don't have an idea yet
  • You have a vague idea but need to refine it
  • You want to validate an existing idea
  • You're not sure if your problem is worth solving

Available Tools​

ToolPurpose
readRead files in your project
browserSearch the web for market research
editCreate markdown files (notes, ideas)

Note: Idea mode has limited tools intentionally. You're thinking, not building yet.

Example Prompts​

Finding an Idea​

I want to build something but I don't have an idea yet. 
I'm interested in fitness and I'm a college student. 
What problems could I solve?

Validating an Idea​

I want to build an app that helps people track their water intake. 
Is this a good idea? What questions should I be asking?

Refining an Idea​

I think my target user is "everyone who wants to drink more water."
Help me narrow this down to a specific user I should focus on.

Competitive Research​

What apps already exist for tracking water intake? 
What could I do differently?

The Idea Validation Framework​

1M Code will guide you through these questions:

1. The Problem​

  • What specific problem are you solving?
  • Who has this problem?
  • How painful is this problem? (Is it a painkiller or a vitamin?)

2. The User​

  • Who specifically would use this?
  • Can you describe them in detail?
  • Where do they hang out online?

3. The Competition​

  • What solutions already exist?
  • Why haven't they solved the problem?
  • What could you do differently?

4. The Scope​

  • What's the simplest version that could work?
  • What features are essential vs. nice-to-have?
  • Can you build this in 2 weeks?

Common Mistakes​

Mistake 1: "I'll build it for everyone"​

Problem: If everyone is your user, no one is your user. Fix: Pick ONE specific person. "College students who forget to drink water during study sessions."

Mistake 2: "I'll add that feature later"​

Problem: Scope creep kills projects. Fix: Ruthlessly cut features. Build the smallest possible thing first.

Mistake 3: "I know what users want"​

Problem: Assumption-based building leads to products no one uses. Fix: Talk to at least 3 potential users before deciding what to build.

Mistake 4: "My idea is completely original"​

Problem: It probably isn't, and that's okay. Fix: Study existing solutions. Do better in ONE specific way.

Output of This Phase​

By the end of Idea mode, you should have:

  1. A clear problem statement (1 sentence)
  2. A specific target user (1 paragraph)
  3. Your unique angle (1 sentence)
  4. A scope decision (what you will and won't build)

Example:

Problem: College students forget to drink water during long study sessions, leading to headaches and reduced focus.

User: Sarah is a sophomore pre-med student who studies 4-6 hours at a time. She knows she should drink more water but forgets when she's focused.

Angle: Unlike complex health apps, this is just a simple timer that reminds her to take a sip. No calorie tracking, no social features, no gamification.

Scope: Timer + reminder notification + daily log. That's it.

When to Move On​

You're ready for 📝 Spec mode when:

  • ✅ You can describe the problem in one sentence
  • ✅ You can describe your target user specifically
  • ✅ You've talked to at least one potential user (even casually)
  • ✅ You know what you WON'T build
  • ✅ You believe you can build something useful in 2 weeks

Switching to Spec Mode​

When you're ready, switch to Spec mode:

Slash command: /spec

Or say: "I've validated my idea. Let's move to defining the product specification."

← Back to Overview

Step 2: Spec →

Video Coming Soon

A walkthrough video for Idea mode is in production. Check back soon or join our Discord for updates.