Katas First steps · About 10 minutes

Turn an idea into a plan

Make a clear one-page brief for something you want to bring into the world.

Start this kata See the result

01 / See it first

Here’s what you can make

Example brief

Neighborhood seed swap

Goal: Help neighbors share spare seeds and try growing something new.

For: People nearby who want to grow plants but may not need a whole packet of seeds.

First steps: Ask a few neighbors if the idea is useful. Find out what seeds people could share. Explore a suitable way to exchange them.

Small test: Describe the idea to a few people and note whether they would offer or take seeds.

Check: We do not yet know if people have spare seeds, or where an exchange could happen.

Question: Where would neighbors most easily hear about the idea?

This fictional example brief was created for the kata with AI assistance. It illustrates the format; the seed swap and its results are not presented as real.

02 / Your turn

Copy the prompt. Make it yours.

Open a new chat in ChatGPT or Claude, paste this prompt, and replace anything you want to change.

Your complete prompt

You are my idea-to-plan partner. Help me develop an idea into a clear one-page project brief.

My idea: a neighborhood seed swap where people can share extra seeds.
Audience: neighbors who want to try growing something.
Constraint: start with a simple, low-cost experiment, without assuming a venue or participants have already agreed.

Write a short brief with:
1. A one-sentence goal.
2. Who it is for and the problem it could help with.
3. Three practical first steps.
4. One small test I can try this week and what I would look for.
5. Two assumptions or risks I should check.

Use plain language. Label assumptions clearly. Do not invent people, results, costs, or commitments. Ask me one useful question at the end.

You can also select and copy the text.

03 / Your ingredients

A simple stack

Harness: ChatGPT or Claude app, or either service in a browser.
Model: A model available in your chosen chat. Access and limits depend on your account.
Instructions: The complete prompt above. Change the topic and constraints to fit your goal.
Context: Your idea and any non-sensitive details you choose to share.
Skills, CLI, MCP, plugins or connectors: None needed for the basic chat version. Optional ways to equip your setup are below.
Agent and verification: One chat assistant drafts; you inspect the result against the checks below and ask it to fix problems.

04 / Pick your setup

Use the device you have

Choose one path. You can do the chat exercise without installing a command line tool.

Phone · ChatGPT app

Open the ChatGPT app, start a new chat, and paste the prompt. Ask the assistant for the requested result. Some account-available plugins can be used on mobile; desktop-only plugins cannot. Plugins are optional here. ChatGPT plugin guide.

Phone · Claude app

Open the Claude app, start a new chat, and paste the prompt. Ask for the requested result. Remote connectors are optional; local desktop extensions do not run on the phone. Claude connectors guide.

Windows

Open ChatGPT or Claude in a browser and paste the prompt. Alternatively, install one CLI in PowerShell using an official command below. These commands download and execute installers; check the linked vendor instructions first. Sign in when prompted; eligibility and plans vary. Use a folder you are comfortable granting the tool access to.

Codex CLI (official setup):

powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.ps1 | iex"
codex

Claude Code (official setup; an eligible paid or other supported account is required):

irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
claude

Then paste the same prompt into the CLI. Review any access or changes it asks to make.

macOS

Open ChatGPT or Claude in a browser and paste the prompt. Alternatively, install one CLI in Terminal using an official command below. These commands download and execute installers; check the linked vendor instructions first. Sign in when prompted; eligibility and plans vary. Use a folder you are comfortable granting the tool access to.

Codex CLI (official setup):

curl -fsSL https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.sh | sh
codex

Claude Code (official setup; an eligible paid or other supported account is required):

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
claude

Then paste the same prompt into the CLI. Review any access or changes it asks to make.

Linux

Open ChatGPT or Claude in a browser and paste the prompt. Alternatively, install one CLI in a terminal using an official command below. These commands download and execute installers; check the linked vendor instructions first. Sign in when prompted; eligibility and plans vary. Use a folder you are comfortable granting the tool access to.

Codex CLI (official setup):

curl -fsSL https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.sh | sh
codex

Claude Code (official setup; an eligible paid or other supported account is required):

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
claude

Then paste the same prompt into the CLI. Review any access or changes it asks to make.

05 / Check and remix

Make sure it works for you

Check that the goal, audience, three steps, one test and two assumptions are all present.
Look for invented facts or promises. Ask the assistant to label or remove anything it cannot support.
Replace the example idea with your own. Keep the same structure and add your real constraints.
Ask: “What is the smallest safe test I could try first, and what would I learn from it?”

Remix: try the same prompt for a school club, an app idea or a creative project.

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