# Proof Of Concept Plan

> Plan and execute focused POCs to validate architectural decisions before full commitment.

- Skill: `sethdford/proof-of-concept-plan` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add sethdford/proof-of-concept-plan`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/sethdford/proof-of-concept-plan/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: sethdford (https://skillmd.com/u/sethdford)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/sethdford/proof-of-concept-plan

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# Proof of Concept Plan

Design focused POCs that test assumptions with minimal investment before full-scale commitment.

## Instructions

1. **Define Hypothesis**: What assumption are we testing?
2. **Scope Tightly**: POC solves one problem, not whole system
3. **Time-Box**: 1-4 weeks, fixed scope
4. **Success Criteria**: How do we know if POC succeeds?
5. **Go-No-Go Decision**: Based on POC, do we proceed?

## Anti-Patterns

- **POC Becomes Product**: POC code shipped to production. Result: unmaintainable mess. **Guard**: Throwaway POCs; rewrite for production.
- **POC Ignores Ops**: Works in demo, fails in production. **Guard**: POC tests operational concerns too.

## Further Reading

- _Experiments_ by Paul Saffo — POC design principles