skills

Build lean, opinionated products using the 37signals philosophy from "Getting Real", "Rework", and "Shape Up". Use when the user mentions "Getting Real", "Rework", "Shape Up", "37signals", "Basecamp method", "six-week cycles", "fixed time variable scope", "appetite vs estimates", "betting table", "breadboarding", "fat marker sketch", "build less", "underdo the competition", "opinionated software", "we have too many meetings", "the project keeps growing", "how do we ship faster", or "stop overbuilding". Also trigger when cutting scope to ship sooner, fighting feature creep, running a small team, avoiding long-term roadmaps, or killing unnecessary meetings. Covers shaping, betting, building, and the art of saying no. For MVP validation, see lean-startup. For design sprints, see design-sprint.

Create uncontested market space using value innovation instead of competing head-to-head. Use when the user mentions "blue ocean", "red ocean", "strategy canvas", "ERRC framework", "value innovation", "non-customers", "buyer utility map", "uncontested market", "stop competing on price", "everyone is undercutting us", "the market is too crowded", or "how do we stand out". Also trigger when comparing pricing strategies, exploring new market categories, finding underserved or non-customers, or escaping a brutal price war. Covers the Four Actions Framework, buyer utility map, and value-cost trade-offs. For tech adoption strategy, see crossing-the-chasm. For product positioning, see obviously-awesome.

Structure software around the Dependency Rule: source code dependencies point inward from frameworks to use cases to entities. Use when the user mentions "architecture layers", "dependency rule", "ports and adapters", "hexagonal architecture", "onion architecture", "screaming architecture", "where should business logic go", "decouple from the database", "swap the framework without a rewrite", "business logic is tangled with the framework", or "keep business rules independent". Also trigger when deciding which layer code belongs in, isolating core logic from infrastructure, defining module boundaries, or debating whether the framework should call your code or the reverse. Covers component principles, boundaries, and SOLID. For code-level quality, see clean-code. For domain modeling, see domain-driven-design.

Write readable, maintainable code through disciplined naming, small functions, and clean error handling. Use when the user mentions "code review", "naming conventions", "function too long", "code smells", "readable code", "boy scout rule", "single responsibility", "unit test quality", "my code is hard to read", "this function is a mess", "clean up this code", or "hard to maintain". Also trigger when reviewing pull requests for readability, untangling messy functions, debating comment styles, or improving error handling patterns. Covers SRP, comment discipline, formatting, and unit testing. For refactoring techniques, see refactoring-patterns. For architecture, see clean-architecture.

Engineer word-of-mouth and virality using the STEPPS framework (Social Currency, Triggers, Emotion, Public, Practical Value, Stories). Use when the user mentions "go viral", "word of mouth", "shareable content", "social currency", "why people share", "viral loop", "referral program", "organic growth", "how do I get people to share this", "nobody is sharing it", or "make this spread". Also trigger when designing shareable features, crafting social campaigns, or building products that spread through peer recommendation. Covers environmental triggers and high-arousal emotional content. For sticky messaging, see made-to-stick. For persuasion tactics, see influence-psychology.

Build a weekly cadence of customer touchpoints using Opportunity Solution Trees, assumption mapping, and interview snapshots. Use when the user mentions "continuous discovery", "opportunity solution tree", "weekly interviews", "assumption testing", "discovery habits", "product trio", "outcome-based roadmap", "how do I talk to customers regularly", "we keep building things nobody uses", or "connect research to the roadmap". Also trigger when setting up regular customer feedback loops, prioritizing which experiments to run, or tying discovery insights to delivery work. Covers experience mapping, co-creation, and prioritizing opportunities. For interview technique, see mom-test. For team structure, see inspired-product.

Audit websites and landing pages for conversion issues and design evidence-based A/B tests. Use when the user mentions "landing page isnt converting", "conversion rate", "A/B test", "why visitors leave", "objection handling", "bounce rate", "split testing", "conversion funnel", "increase signups", "people add to cart but dont buy", or "improve conversions". Also trigger when diagnosing why signups are low, designing experiment hypotheses, or auditing checkout flows for friction points. Covers funnel mapping, persuasion assets, and objection/counter-objection frameworks. For overall marketing strategy, see one-page-marketing. For usability issues, see ux-heuristics.

Navigate the technology adoption lifecycle from early adopters to mainstream market. Use when the user mentions "crossing the chasm", "beachhead segment", "whole product", "early adopters vs mainstream", "tech go-to-market", "bowling pin strategy", "technology adoption lifecycle", "pragmatist buyers", "growth stalled after early adopters", "cant get mainstream customers", or "our go-to-market plan". Also trigger when a startup has early traction but cant grow beyond initial users, or when planning go-to-market for a technical product. Covers the D-Day analogy, bowling-pin strategy, and positioning against incumbents. For product positioning, see obviously-awesome. For new market creation, see blue-ocean-strategy.

Design data systems by understanding storage engines, replication, partitioning, transactions, and consistency models. Use when the user mentions "database choice", "which database should I use", "SQL or NoSQL", "replication lag", "partitioning strategy", "consistency vs availability", "stream processing", "ACID transactions", "eventual consistency", "my queries are slow at scale", or "data is inconsistent across replicas". Also trigger when choosing a datastore, designing data pipelines, or debugging distributed-system consistency issues. Covers data models, batch/stream processing, and distributed consensus. For system design, see system-design. For resilience, see release-it.

Apply foundational design principles: affordances, signifiers, constraints, feedback, and conceptual models. Use when the user mentions "why is this confusing", "affordance", "error prevention", "discoverability", "human-centered design", "mental model", "mapping", "seven stages of action", "users keep making mistakes", "this is unintuitive", or "people cant figure out how to use it". Also trigger when diagnosing why users err, reducing product complexity, or improving error messages and feedback. Covers the gulfs of execution and evaluation. For usability scoring, see ux-heuristics. For iOS-specific patterns, see ios-hig-design.

Run a structured 5-day process to prototype, test, and validate product ideas with real users. Use when the user mentions "design sprint", "validate in a week", "rapid prototype", "test with users", "de-risk before building", "GV sprint", "prototype testing", "design workshop", "should we build this", "validate an idea fast", or "test before we build". Also trigger when a team must make a critical product decision quickly, resolve stakeholder disagreements, or test a risky idea before investing in development. Covers mapping, sketching, deciding, prototyping, and testing. For ongoing experimentation, see lean-startup. For customer job analysis, see jobs-to-be-done.

Model software around the business domain using bounded contexts, aggregates, and ubiquitous language. Use when the user mentions "domain modeling", "bounded context", "aggregate root", "ubiquitous language", "anti-corruption layer", "context mapping", "domain events", "strategic design", "model the business in code", "the code doesnt match the business", or "how do we split this big system". Also trigger when breaking a monolith into services, defining service boundaries, or aligning code structure with business processes. Covers entities vs value objects, domain events, and context mapping strategies. For architecture layers, see clean-architecture. For complexity, see software-design-philosophy.

Design motivation systems using Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose (AMP) for products and teams. Use when the user mentions "intrinsic motivation", "gamification isnt working", "team incentives", "autonomy", "mastery", "purpose-driven", "employee engagement", "reward systems", "my team is disengaged", "how do I motivate people", or "rewards arent working". Also trigger when designing onboarding progression, fixing broken gamification, or building team structures that sustain high performance. Covers why carrot-and-stick fails and how to build progress systems. For habit-forming product loops, see hooked-ux. For retention behavior design, see improve-retention.

Optimize web performance through network protocols, resource loading, and browser rendering internals. Use when the user mentions "page load speed", "Core Web Vitals", "HTTP/2", "resource hints", "network latency", "render blocking", "TCP optimization", "service worker", "critical rendering path", "my site is slow", "improve page speed", or "slow to load". Also trigger when diagnosing slow page loads, optimizing time to first byte, choosing between WebSocket and SSE, or reducing bundle sizes. Covers TCP/TLS optimization, caching strategies, WebSocket/SSE, and protocol selection. For UI visual performance, see refactoring-ui. For font loading, see web-typography.

Design habit-forming product loops using the Hook Model (Trigger, Action, Variable Reward, Investment). Use when the user mentions "users arent coming back", "engagement loops", "habit formation", "push notifications", "variable rewards", "daily active users", "habit zone", "user retention loops", "build a habit", "increase engagement", or "how do I get users to return". Also trigger when designing notification strategies, building streaks or progress systems, or analyzing why users stop after signup. Covers ethics evaluation and onboarding for habits. For friction reduction and B=MAP, see improve-retention. For viral sharing, see contagious.

Create irresistible offers using the Value Equation, bonus stacking, risk-reversing guarantees, and ethical scarcity. Use when the user mentions "irresistible offer", "bonuses and guarantees", "value-to-price ratio", "offer naming", "grand slam offer", "guarantee strategy", "premium pricing justification", "make my offer more compelling", "what bonuses should I add", "stop discounting", or "people say its too expensive". Also trigger when packaging a product for higher perceived value, designing a money-back guarantee, or structuring tiers to maximize conversions. Covers the MAGIC naming formula and starving-crowd targeting. For product positioning, see obviously-awesome. For outbound sales, see predictable-revenue.

Diagnose and fix retention problems using behavior design (B=MAP). Use when the user mentions "users drop off", "activation rate", "onboarding friction", "retention metrics", "why users dont complete", "churn analysis", "user activation", "aha moment", "people sign up but dont stick around", "boost retention", or "improve activation". Also trigger when analyzing cohort retention curves, designing activation milestones, reducing time-to-value for new users, or investigating why users quit after their first session. Covers the Ability Chain, prompt design, and tiny behaviors that compound. For habit loops and variable rewards, see hooked-ux. For intrinsic motivation, see drive-motivation.

Apply the six principles of ethical persuasion (reciprocity, commitment, social proof, authority, liking, scarcity) to product design, copy, and sales. Use when the user mentions "social proof", "persuasive copy", "why users dont convert", "ethical persuasion", "reciprocity", "scarcity tactics", "commitment and consistency", "make my copy more persuasive", "increase trust", or "get more people to say yes". Also trigger when designing testimonial sections, crafting urgency messaging, or improving trust signals on landing pages. Covers the principles, when each applies, and ethical limits. For deal negotiation tactics, see negotiation. For viral word-of-mouth, see contagious.

Build empowered product teams using discovery and delivery dual-track. Use when the user mentions "product discovery", "empowered teams", "feature factory", "product roadmap", "opportunity assessment", "product vision", "product-led growth", "discovery vs delivery", "what should we build", "our roadmap is just a feature list", or "set our product strategy". Also trigger when restructuring product teams away from output-driven models, setting product strategy, or deciding what to build next based on outcomes. Covers product discovery techniques, team structure, and continuous value delivery. For customer interviews, see mom-test. For ongoing discovery systems, see continuous-discovery.

Design native iOS interfaces following Apple Human Interface Guidelines. Use when the user mentions "iPhone app", "iPad layout", "SwiftUI", "UIKit", "Dynamic Island", "safe areas", "HIG compliance", "SF Symbols", "haptic feedback", "iOS accessibility", "make my app feel native", or "follow Apple design guidelines". Also trigger when building tab bars, navigation stacks, sheets, or modals for iOS, implementing dark mode, or adapting layouts across screen sizes. Covers navigation patterns, accessibility, SF Symbols, and platform conventions. For general UI polish, see refactoring-ui. For affordance design, see design-everyday-things.

Discover what customers truly need by analyzing the "job" they hire your product to do. Use when the user mentions "customer discovery", "why customers churn", "what job does this solve", "competing against luck", "product-market fit", "switching behavior", "milkshake moment", "functional vs emotional jobs", "why do customers actually buy", or "understand what customers really need". Also trigger when investigating why users choose competitors, designing features around real customer needs, or reframing a value proposition. Covers JTBD interviews, competition analysis, and jobs-oriented roadmaps. For product positioning, see obviously-awesome. For rapid validation, see design-sprint.

Design MVPs, validated learning experiments, and pivot-or-persevere decisions using Build-Measure-Learn. Use when the user mentions "MVP scope", "validated learning", "pivot or persevere", "vanity metrics", "test assumptions", "innovation accounting", "build-measure-learn", "minimum viable experiment", "should we pivot", "test a business idea cheaply", or "build the smallest version first". Also trigger when deciding what to include in a first version, measuring startup progress, or evaluating whether to change direction on a product bet. Covers innovation accounting and actionable metrics. For 5-day prototype testing, see design-sprint. For customer motivation analysis, see jobs-to-be-done.

Apply lean thinking to UX: hypothesis-driven design, collaborative sketching, and rapid experiments instead of heavy deliverables. Use when the user mentions "Lean UX", "design hypothesis", "UX experiment", "collaborative design", "outcome over output", "design studio method", "assumption mapping", "lightweight research", "too much design documentation", "design faster as a team", or "get the team designing together". Also trigger when reducing design-documentation overhead, getting cross-functional teams to co-design, or running fast usability experiments. Covers hypothesis statements, MVPs for UX, and cross-functional collaboration. For Build-Measure-Learn, see lean-startup. For usability audits, see ux-heuristics.

Craft messages that are understood, remembered, and drive action using the SUCCESs checklist (Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, Stories). Use when the user mentions "make it memorable", "sticky messaging", "tagline", "value proposition", "why the message isnt landing", "knowledge curse", "concrete language", "people forget our message", "make this stick", or "no one remembers our pitch". Also trigger when writing a pitch deck, simplifying a complex product explanation, or making a presentation more compelling and memorable. Covers the six SUCCESs traits and the curse of knowledge. For narrative brand frameworks, see storybrand-messaging. For viral sharing, see contagious.