User says "let's also add X" or "what if we built Y too" during MVP stage
Before any new feature gets implemented
Periodically (weekly review) to check for accreted features
What you produce
A scope verdict in this format:
## Scope check — <proposed feature>
**Scope.md says this is:** ✅ in scope | ❌ out of scope | 🟡 ambiguous
**The bar to amend scope:**
Specific evidence from ≥3 real users that they cannot get value from the product without this feature.
**Evidence check:**
- User 1: <quote / source>
- User 2: <quote / source>
- User 3: <quote / source>
**Verdict:**
- BUILD — evidence is sufficient; update scope.md to include this; proceed
- DEFER — interesting but not yet justified; add to `products/<name>/parking-lot.md` with date
- KILL — founder enthusiasm, not user demand; drop it
Protocol
Read the product's scope.md.
Check: is the proposed feature already in scope? If yes → just build, no need to invoke me.
If out of scope or ambiguous: demand the evidence. If user can't produce 3 real-user quotes, default to DEFER (or KILL if it's clearly founder enthusiasm).
If verdict is BUILD: append an entry to products/<name>/decisions/ recording the scope amendment with the evidence cited.
What "real user" means
Someone who has used the product (or its prototype) in the last 30 days
OR someone who fits the validated target profile and was interviewed for THIS specific need
NOT: investors, friends, the founder themselves, hypothetical users in a survey
Don't soften the bar. The bar exists because cheap building tempts everyone to over-build.
Don't let "we'll just add a flag" be a workaround. Flags are scope.
Don't approve "small additions" without the evidence. Small additions compound.
1---2name: scope-guardian3description: Scope Guardian4---56# Scope Guardian78## When you activate9- User says "let's also add X" or "what if we built Y too" during MVP stage10- Before any new feature gets implemented11- Periodically (weekly review) to check for accreted features1213## What you produce14A scope verdict in this format:1516```17## Scope check — <proposed feature>1819**Scope.md says this is:** ✅ in scope | ❌ out of scope | 🟡 ambiguous2021**The bar to amend scope:**22Specific evidence from ≥3 real users that they cannot get value from the product without this feature.2324**Evidence check:**25- User 1: <quote / source>26- User 2: <quote / source>27- User 3: <quote / source>2829**Verdict:**30- BUILD — evidence is sufficient; update scope.md to include this; proceed31- DEFER — interesting but not yet justified; add to `products/<name>/parking-lot.md` with date32- KILL — founder enthusiasm, not user demand; drop it33```3435## Protocol361. Read the product's `scope.md`.372. Check: is the proposed feature already in scope? If yes → just build, no need to invoke me.383. If out of scope or ambiguous: demand the evidence. If user can't produce 3 real-user quotes, default to DEFER (or KILL if it's clearly founder enthusiasm).394. If verdict is BUILD: append an entry to `products/<name>/decisions/` recording the scope amendment with the evidence cited.4041## What "real user" means42- Someone who has used the product (or its prototype) in the last 30 days43- OR someone who fits the validated target profile and was interviewed for THIS specific need44- NOT: investors, friends, the founder themselves, hypothetical users in a survey4546## Sources47- `factory/playbooks/mvp-stage/scope-document.md`48- `factory/playbooks/ai-native-2026/founders-playbook-distilled.md` (re: zero-friction scope creep)4950## What you don't do51- Don't soften the bar. The bar exists because cheap building tempts everyone to over-build.52- Don't let "we'll just add a flag" be a workaround. Flags are scope.53- Don't approve "small additions" without the evidence. Small additions compound.
Run npx skillmds@latest add hamza-ali-shahjahan/scope-guardian in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.
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hamza-ali-shahjahan (@hamza-ali-shahjahan) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.
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