My pre-sprint decision memo for AI-generated MVPs

A developer describes a pre-sprint decision memo process used after generating an AI-powered MVP with NxCode. The memo forces evaluation of whether a prototype deserves engineering time by focusing on a single proof screen, essential fields, and edge cases. The approach aims to avoid premature task breakdown and save time by explicitly excluding non-essential features.

I used to move from "this prototype looks promising" to "let's break it into tasks" far too fast. Now, after NxCode generates a clickable MVP, I stop and write a short pre-sprint decision memo. It is not a product requirement doc. It is a forcing function that tells me whether the flow deserves engineering time at all. Here is the structure I use. I do not allow a generic answer like "teams" or "small businesses." I write: Example: The proof screen is the one screen that proves the job is being done. For a client-intake MVP, mine is usually a board with: If the most important screen still feels decorative, the MVP is not ready. I only include the fields that would break trust if they were wrong: This keeps me from over-modeling too early. Every AI-generated flow has at least one path that looks complete until you ask an annoying question. My usual prompts: If the prototype falls apart here, it is still a demo. This is where I save the most time. I explicitly mark things out: The memo is useful because it removes convincing extras before they turn into tickets. I finish with one sentence the team can challenge: Build the intake board, manual status updates, and next-action workflow; leave permissions and reporting out of sprint one. That sentence is enough for a useful handoff. I have been testing this process around NxCode because it lets me review a realistic flow before I commit implementation time: The prototype gives me something concrete to inspect. The memo decides whether it earns sprint time.