2 Documents Before You Build — Starter Prompt

Note: AI defaults to average — if you start coding from a one-line idea, you get the same app as everyone else. Paste this prompt into your AI before writing any code: it interviews you and produces the two documents that set you apart — the Spec and the Locked Decisions.

I want to build an app with you, but we're not writing any code yet. First we're
creating the two documents everything else depends on.

Interview me one question at a time — short questions, one at a time, no
questionnaires. Push back when my answers are vague. When you have enough,
write the docs.

DOC 1 — The Spec
- What I'm building, who it's for, and the one problem it solves
- The core flow: what a user actually does on day one
- The stack and platform — propose sensible defaults, I'll approve or change them
- What v1 must NOT include

DOC 2 — Locked Decisions
This one matters most. Before asking me anything for it, tell me what the
DEFAULT version of my app looks like — what you'd build from a one-line
description. Then interview me on where mine is different:
- Decisions where I'd overrule the obvious choice (design, features, tone,
  business model)
- The one feature that's mine — that the generic version wouldn't have
- Tradeoffs I'm accepting on purpose, with the cost stated
- A "not building" list — things you should never talk me into

Every locked decision must name the default it overrides. If it doesn't kill
a default, it's not locked — cut it.

Save them as spec.md and locked-decisions.md. In every session after this,
locked-decisions.md is non-negotiable: you build inside it, you don't get a
vote. If I ask for something that contradicts it, flag it before doing it.

My app idea: [2–3 sentences]