jamestorrevillas Side Project Planning
The MVP Mindset
Build the smallest thing that proves the core assumption.
Most side projects fail not because of bad execution but because of unvalidated assumptions. The goal of an MVP is to test the riskiest assumption with the least effort.
Idea Validation Framework
Before writing a line of code:
1. PROBLEM: Is this a real problem people have?
- Talk to 5 potential users — do they describe this problem unprompted?
2. SOLUTION FIT: Does your solution actually solve it?
- Can you describe it in one sentence they immediately understand?
3. WILLINGNESS TO PAY: Will people pay for it?
- "Would you pay $X/month for this?" is very different from "Would you use this?"
4. DIFFERENTIATION: Why this, not the existing alternatives?
- What's 10x better than what exists?
5. REACHABILITY: Can you reach the target users?
- Do you know where they are? Reddit, Slack, conferences, Twitter?
MVP Scoping Rules
For each feature, ask:
- Is this required for the core value proposition? If no → cut it
- Can this be manual/fake before automating? If yes → fake it first
- Does the user notice if this isn't perfect? If no → ship it rough
The Concierge MVP
Before building the full system, manually do what the software would do:
- Validate demand before automating
- Understand the real workflow before encoding it
- Much faster to iterate on a manual process
Monetization Models for Developer Tools/AI
| Model | Best When | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | High volume, viral potential | Need large base for conversion |
| Subscription | Recurring value, ongoing use | Churn management |
| Usage-based | Variable usage patterns | Revenue unpredictability |
| One-time | Simple tools, no ongoing cost | No recurring revenue |
| B2B SaaS | Enterprise buyers, high value | Long sales cycles |
Build vs Buy Decision
Build when:
- This is your core differentiator
- No existing solution fits well enough
- Building it teaches you something critical
Buy/use existing when:
- It's infrastructure (auth, payments, email)
- The time savings are significant
- Your users don't care who built it
Project Health Checklist
Before investing more time in a side project:
- At least 3 real users (not friends being polite) use it regularly
- At least 1 person has paid or expressed clear willingness to pay
- You can explain the value in one sentence
- You still want to work on it after the initial excitement fades
- You have a realistic path to your first 100 users
The Personality-Consistent AI Memory Layer (Example Application)
For your specific AI side project idea:
- Core assumption to test: Users want AI that remembers their preferences, style, and context consistently across conversations
- Riskiest assumption: Users will pay for this over using free ChatGPT memory
- MVP: A simple wrapper that stores and injects user context — no fancy UI needed to test the core value
- Validation step: 10 users using it for 30 days. Do they return? Do they pay $5/mo?