What is an MVP, and how do I scope one before I start vibe coding?

An MVP—or Minimum Viable Product—is the smallest version of your idea that still solves the core problem for your target user. It isn’t about building a "half-finished" product; it’s about building a "fully-functioning" core experience that lets you learn what actually works.

"Vibe coding" is a fast, creative way to iterate, but without a clear scope, you’ll easily get lost in the weeds. Here is how to define your scope before you start:

1. Identify the "One Core Value"

Don’t try to solve five problems. Ask yourself: What is the single, most critical action a user must be able to complete for this to be useful?

• If it’s a food delivery app, the MVP isn't a loyalty program or a rating system; it’s the ability to order a meal and have it arrive.

2. The "Must-Have vs. Nice-to-Have" Filter

List every feature you think you want. Then, be ruthless:

• Must-Have: If this feature is missing, does the core value disappear? (Keep these).
• Nice-to-Have: Does this make the product better but isn’t strictly required for the core experience? (Move these to a "Phase 2" list).
• The Vibe-Killer: If a feature takes more than a few days to build or relies on complex integrations, cut it or simplify it for the MVP.

3. Focus on the "Happy Path"

Ignore the edge cases. In your MVP, assume the user does everything correctly.

• Don't build advanced error handling or complex account recovery yet.
• Design the flow for the user who knows what they want and uses the tool exactly as intended.

4. Define Your Success Metric

Before you write a single line of code, define what "viable" means to you. How will you know if this version is a success? Is it that a user reaches the end of the flow? That they save an item? That they return the next day? If you can't measure it, you don't know if your MVP is working.

5. Time-Box Your "Vibing"

Vibe coding is great for speed, but it can lead to "feature creep" because it feels so easy to add things. Give yourself a hard deadline (e.g., "I will spend exactly 48 hours of coding on this"). When the time is up, stop adding features and launch what you have.

A good rule of thumb: If you aren't slightly embarrassed by how simple your MVP is, you’ve probably scoped it too broadly. Keep it tiny, ship it, and let the real-world feedback guide your next move.