Did you know that 70% of software projects fail because of poor requirements? 😱 According to the Standish Group's Chaos Report, unclear or changing requirements are the top cause of project failure, costing companies billions of dollars annually. But here's the exciting part—AI can help you nail your product requirements from day one!
Building product requirements isn't just a nice-to-have document you create because someone told you to. It's your roadmap to success! Think of it as your product's blueprint—without it, you're basically building a house without knowing if you want a studio apartment or a mansion.
The great news? You don't need to know every single feature your product will eventually have. With a solid understanding of your core problem and a first batch of must-have features, you'll have everything you need to build a killer Minimum Viable Product (MVP). 🚀
Before we dive deep, here's your action plan:
Let's talk about the traps that'll derail your project faster than you can say "feature creep." I've seen these mistakes countless times, and trust me, they're totally avoidable!
AI can generate endless feature ideas—it's like having a brainstorm session that never ends. This sounds awesome until you realize you're planning a spaceship when you just needed a bicycle. Stick to your MVP with discipline.
⚠️ Warning: When AI suggests 15 "essential" features, take a step back. Your MVP should solve one core problem really well.
Here's the thing—your MVP isn't about showing off the latest tech stack. It's about proving your idea works! Let the AI and tools decide the technologies for you. If you don't like what they suggest, you probably need a different AI tool, not a different approach.
AI models sometimes make up technical limitations that don't actually exist. They might tell you something is "impossible" when it's actually pretty straightforward. Always double-check these constraints with real developers or documentation.
You cannot build the perfect product on your first try—nobody can! Even the biggest tech companies iterate constantly. Start small, embrace the MVP methodology, and improve based on real user feedback.
AI loves being thorough (sometimes too thorough). This can lead to requirements documents that are longer than a novel and more detailed than NASA mission specs. Remember: excessive detail makes implementation harder, not easier.
Don't get so caught up in AI-generated requirements that you forget to talk to actual humans! Take advantage of AI's fast prototyping capabilities, but validate with real users. Launch today, improve tomorrow!
You might already know about MVPs from Eric Ries's "The Lean Startup" (seriously, read that book if you haven't—it's a game-changer! 📚).
The Minimum Viable Product is your product stripped down to its absolute core—the simplest version that still delivers real value to early users. It's not about creating something half-baked; it's about identifying the essential features that solve your primary user problem.
Think of your MVP as your product's essence in its purest form. This approach helps you:
For us vibe coders, the MVP concept is incredibly powerful because AI tools excel at iterative development. You can rapidly prototype core functionality, gather feedback, and enhance your product based on real data rather than guesswork. 🎯
Remember: an MVP should still be viable—it must actually solve the core problem you've identified, even if it lacks all the bells and whistles. The goal is launching something valuable while minimizing waste.
Building MVP requirements can feel overwhelming, so I created this quick and simple product planner to get you started. No stress—just clear thinking!
Purpose: Design the simplest version of a product that solves a user's problem
Time: 15-20 minutes
Instructions: Answer each question to create a clear plan for your MVP. Keep it simple—focus on the user's core need!
What problem does your product solve? Who faces it?
Write 1 sentence about the problem and the user.
Example: "Students need a way to organize study notes quickly."
What's the one key thing your product does to fix the problem?
Write 1 sentence describing the main benefit.
Example: "A simple app to tag and search study notes by topic."
List exactly 3 must-have features to deliver the benefit.
Cross out anything "nice-to-have" (like fancy designs).
Example:
Write 3-5 steps showing how the user uses your product.
Keep it simple, like a straight line from start to finish.
Example:
Open app
Type note and add tag
Search by tag to find notes
How will you know if your product works for users?
Write 1 measurable goal (e.g., time, satisfaction).
Example: "Students can find a note in under 10 seconds."
💡 Pro Tips:
- Focus on one user goal
- If a feature feels complex, save it for later
- Think: "What's the least I need to build to help the user?"
Ready to let AI do the heavy lifting? Here's a battle-tested prompt that'll help you generate solid MVP requirements:
1Act as an expert product manager and create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) requirements document based on the provided input, following the MVP Product Planner structure. The goal is to design the simplest version of a product that solves a specific user problem, focusing on core features and avoiding feature creep, overspecification, or unnecessary complexity. Use the following input to fill out the planner and propose minimal, effective features and a user flow. Suggest technologies only if necessary, prioritizing simplicity and flexibility, and avoid imposing hallucinated constraints or overly detailed requirements. Ensure the output is clear, concise, and actionable, with a measurable success metric. 2 3**Input**: 4- Problem: [Insert your answer from Planner Section 1, e.g., 'Students need a way to organize study notes quickly.'] 5- Core Benefit: [Insert your answer from Planner Section 2, e.g., 'A simple app to tag and search study notes by topic.'] 6 7**Instructions**: 81. **Problem**: Restate the problem and user from the input. 92. **Core Benefit**: Restate the core benefit from the input. 103. **Core Features**: Propose exactly 3 must-have features to deliver the core benefit. Exclude 'nice-to-have' features like advanced designs or complex functionalities. Ensure features are simple and aligned with the MVP methodology. 114. **User Flow**: Outline 3-5 simple steps showing how the user interacts with the product to achieve the core benefit. Keep it linear and minimal. 125. **Success**: Define 1 measurable goal to evaluate if the product solves the problem (e.g., time saved, user satisfaction). 136. **Optional**: If relevant, suggest 1-2 technologies or tools for implementation, but only if they enhance simplicity or speed of development. Avoid heavy opinions on tech stacks. 14 15**Output Format**: 16Use the MVP Product Planner structure: 17- Problem: [Restated problem] 18- Core Benefit: [Restated benefit] 19- Core Features: 20 1. [Feature 1] 21 2. [Feature 2] 22 3. [Feature 3] 23- User Flow: 24 1. [Step 1] 25 2. [Step 2] 26 3. [Step 3] 27- Success: [Measurable goal] 28- [Optional] Suggested Technologies: [1-2 simple tools, if applicable] 29 30**Constraints**: 31- Stick to the MVP methodology: focus on the minimum needed to validate the product. 32- Avoid feature creep, overspecification, or imaginary technical limitations. 33- Keep the response concise (under 300 words). 34- If the input is incomplete, make reasonable assumptions based on the problem provided and note them. 35 36## Notes 37- Ensure you provide a clear Problem and Core Benefit for best results. 38- After generating the MVP, validate the features and user flow with real users. 39- Refine the prompt if the output includes excessive detail or hallucinated constraints (e.g., "Simplify the features further").
Let's see this prompt in action! Here's how you'd use it for a freelancer billing app:
1Act as an expert product manager and create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) requirements document based on the provided input, following the MVP Product Planner structure. The goal is to design the simplest version of a product that solves a specific user problem, focusing on core features and avoiding feature creep, overspecification, or unnecessary complexity. Use the following input to fill out the planner and propose minimal, effective features and a user flow. Suggest technologies only if necessary, prioritizing simplicity and flexibility, and avoid imposing hallucinated constraints or overly detailed requirements. Ensure the output is clear, concise, and actionable, with a measurable success metric. 2 3**Input**: 4- Problem: Freelancers need a way to track billable hours easily. 5- Core Benefit: A simple tool to log and summarize hours worked per project. 6 7[Include the same instructions and constraints as above]
💡 Quick Tip: Replace the Problem and Core Benefit with your own ideas to get a custom MVP plan that fits your specific project!
You've got the framework, you've got the prompts, and now you know how to avoid the common pitfalls. Here's what you should do next:
Remember, building great products isn't about having all the answers upfront. It's about asking the right questions, starting small, and iterating based on real feedback. With AI as your co-pilot and the MVP methodology as your guide, you're set up for success!
You've got this—now go build something amazing! 🎉