# Project Idea & Kickoff Guide

> **🎯 Purpose**: This is your project planning document. Write your ideas, requirements, and plans here. This is also the **primary entry point for AI assistants** to understand and help start your project.

> **👋 First time here?** Check **[START_HERE.md](./START_HERE.md)** for navigation guide!

## 📝 Project Concept

### What problem are we solving?

[Describe the problem or need this project addresses]

**Example:**
> Build a Python package that helps developers automatically generate API documentation from code comments, reducing manual documentation work by 80%.

### Why does this matter?

[Explain the significance and potential impact]

### Who is this for?

[Define target users/audience]

---

## 💡 Initial Ideas & Requirements

### Core Features (MVP)

- [ ] Feature 1: [Description]
- [ ] Feature 2: [Description]
- [ ] Feature 3: [Description]

### Future Features (Post-MVP)

- [ ] Future feature 1
- [ ] Future feature 2

### Non-Requirements (What we're NOT building)

- [Clarify scope boundaries]

---

## 🏗️ Architecture & Design Ideas

### High-Level Architecture

```
[Sketch your initial architecture ideas here]

Example:
User Input → Parser → Generator → Output
```

### Key Components

1. **Component 1**: [Purpose and responsibility]
2. **Component 2**: [Purpose and responsibility]

### Technology Choices

- **Language**: [e.g., Python 3.11+]
- **Key Libraries**: [e.g., FastAPI, SQLAlchemy]
- **Storage**: [e.g., SQLite, PostgreSQL]
- **Deployment**: [e.g., Docker, AWS]

### Design Decisions

- Decision 1: [What and why]
- Decision 2: [What and why]

---

## 📊 Success Criteria

### Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

- [ ] Criterion 1: [Measurable goal]
- [ ] Criterion 2: [Measurable goal]
- [ ] Criterion 3: [Measurable goal]

### Key Metrics

- Metric 1: [How to measure]
- Metric 2: [How to measure]

---

## 🗓️ Development Plan

### Phase 1: Foundation (Week 1-2)
- [ ] Set up project structure
- [ ] Implement core data models
- [ ] Basic CLI interface

### Phase 2: Core Features (Week 3-4)
- [ ] Implement feature 1
- [ ] Implement feature 2
- [ ] Unit tests

### Phase 3: Polish (Week 5-6)
- [ ] Documentation
- [ ] Error handling
- [ ] Performance optimization

### Phase 4: Release (Week 7+)
- [ ] Beta testing
- [ ] Bug fixes
- [ ] First release

---

## 🎨 User Experience Ideas

### User Journey

1. User does X
2. System responds with Y
3. User can then Z

### Example Usage

```python
# Example of how users might use this project
from project_name import main_function

result = main_function(input_data)
print(result)
```

---

## ❓ Open Questions

[Track questions you need to answer during development]

- [ ] Question 1: [Your question]
- [ ] Question 2: [Your question]

---

## 📚 Research & References

### Similar Projects
- [Project name](link): [What we can learn]

### Useful Resources
- [Article/resource](link): [Key insights]

### Standards & Specifications
- [Standard name](link): [How it applies]

---

## 🤔 Notes & Thoughts

### Ideas to Explore
- Idea 1
- Idea 2

### Concerns & Risks
- Risk 1: [Mitigation plan]
- Risk 2: [Mitigation plan]

### Inspiration
- [What inspired this project]

---

## 🚀 Next Steps

### Immediate Actions
1. [ ] Action item 1
2. [ ] Action item 2

### Questions to Answer
1. [ ] Question 1
2. [ ] Question 2

---

## 📝 Change Log

### YYYY-MM-DD - Initial Ideas
- Initial project concept
- Core features identified

### YYYY-MM-DD - [Update Date]
- [What changed]

---

## 💬 How to Use This Document

### For You (Project Creator)
1. **Brainstorm here**: Write down all your ideas, even incomplete ones
2. **Update regularly**: As ideas evolve, update this document
3. **Track progress**: Check off items as you complete them
4. **Document decisions**: Record why you made certain choices

### For AI Assistants

**🎯 START HERE**: When helping with this project, read this file first!

**What AI should do:**
1. ✅ Read this file to understand the project vision
2. ✅ Read `AI_CONTEXT.md` for technical context
3. ✅ Check current implementation status
4. ✅ Suggest next steps based on the plan
5. ✅ Generate code that aligns with the architecture

**Prompt for AI:**
```
I'm starting a new project. Please:
1. Read PROJECT_IDEA.md to understand the project concept
2. Read AI_CONTEXT.md for technical setup
3. Help me create an initial implementation plan
4. Generate starter code based on the architecture outlined
```

---

**Last Updated**: [Date]
**Status**: 🟡 Planning / 🟢 In Progress / 🔵 MVP Complete / 🟣 Released

