idea-generator

What this skill does

# Idea Generator Skill

Generates a ranked shortlist of 3-5 app ideas tailored to the developer's skills, interests, and constraints. Output is formatted to feed directly into the product-agent skill for validation.

## When This Skill Activates

Use this skill when the user:
- Doesn't have an app idea yet
- Says "what should I build?" or "I don't know what to build"
- Wants to brainstorm app ideas
- Is stuck after a previous idea was rejected or abandoned
- Wants to explore what's possible with a specific technology (e.g., "what can I build with Foundation Models?")
- Wants inspiration based on their skills or domain expertise
- Asks for a brainstorm session

**Already has a specific idea?** Skip this skill. Use the product-agent skill instead.

## What This Skill Does

### 1. Developer Profile Elicitation

Gathers context about the developer to personalize ideas:
- **Technical skills** — Languages, frameworks, platforms (Swift, SwiftUI, UIKit, CloudKit, etc.)
- **Domain interests** — Health, finance, productivity, education, creativity, etc.
- **Platform preference** — iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, or multi-platform
- **Time availability** — Side project (5-10 hrs/week), full-time, weekend hack
- **Constraints** — Budget, backend experience, design skills, existing audience

### 2. Five Brainstorming Lenses

Each lens generates 5-8 raw ideas. Lenses are applied in order:

1. **Skills & Interests** — What can you uniquely build given what you know?
2. **Problem-First** — What took 30 seconds today that should take 5? What's annoying?
3. **Technology-First** — Which Apple frameworks have few indie apps? (Foundation Models, ActivityKit, WidgetKit, VisionKit, WeatherKit, MapKit)
4. **Market Gap** — Where are App Store categories underserved, stale, or overpriced?
5. **Trend-Based** — What macro trends create new app opportunities? (AI-native, privacy-first, health/wellness, single-use utilities, Apple Silicon productivity)

### 3. Feasibility Filtering

Each raw idea is evaluated against five filters:

| Filter | Question |
|--------|----------|
| Solo Dev Scope | Can one developer ship an MVP in 4-8 weeks? |
| Platform API Fit | Does this leverage Apple platform APIs well? |
| Monetization Viability | Is there a clear path to revenue? |
| Competition Density | How crowded is this space? |
| Technical Complexity | Does the developer have the skills to build this? |

### 4. Scoring and Ranking

Each surviving idea is scored across five dimensions:

| Dimension | WEAK (1-2) | MODERATE (3-5) | STRONG (6-8) | EXCELLENT (9-10) |
|-----------|------------|----------------|--------------|------------------|
| Solo Dev Scope | 6+ months | 3-6 months | 4-8 weeks | 2-4 weeks |
| Platform API Fit | Generic/cross-platform | Some native APIs | Good platform integration | Deep Apple API usage |
| Monetization | Unclear model | Ad-supported or low ARPU | Subscription viable | Premium pricing justified |
| Competition | Dominated by incumbents | Crowded but fragmented | Few quality options | Blue ocean |
| Technical Fit | Major skill gaps | Some learning needed | Good skill match | Perfect skill match |

**Overall Score** = weighted average on 1-10 scale (Solo Dev Scope and Technical Fit weighted 1.5x).

### 5. Shortlist Output

Final output is a ranked list of 3-5 ideas, each with:
- One-liner description
- Which lens generated it
- Problem statement and target user
- Feasibility scores
- Monetization model
- MVP scope estimate
- `next_step` description for feeding the idea into the product-agent skill

## Output Structure

```json
{
  "developer_profile": {
    "skills": ["Swift", "SwiftUI", "HealthKit", "Core Motion"],
    "interests": ["fitness", "wearables", "data visualization"],
    "platform": "iOS + watchOS",
    "time_availability": "side project (10 hrs/week)",
    "constraints": ["no backend experience", "solo developer"]
  },
  "brainstorm_lenses_used": [
    "skills_and_interests",
    "problem_first",
    "technology_first",
    "market_gap",
    "trend_based"
  ],
  "shortlist": [
    {
      "rank": 1,
      "idea": "Workout Recovery Timer",
      "lens": "skills_and_interests",
      "one_liner": "Apple Watch app that tracks heart rate recovery between sets and suggests optimal rest periods",
      "platform": "watchOS + iOS companion",
      "problem_statement": "Gym-goers either rest too long (wasting time) or too short (risking injury). No app uses real-time HR data to personalize rest periods.",
      "target_user": "Regular gym-goers who wear Apple Watch during workouts",
      "feasibility": {
        "solo_dev_scope": "STRONG (6 weeks — HealthKit + WatchKit + simple UI)",
        "platform_api_fit": "EXCELLENT (HealthKit, WorkoutKit, Live Activities)",
        "monetization_viability": "STRONG (subscription $3.99/mo — fitness users pay for tools)",
        "competition_density": "STRONG (few apps focus specifically on HR-based rest timing)",
        "technical_fit": "EXCELLENT (matches HealthKit + Core Motion skills)"
      },
      "overall_score": 8.4,
      "monetization_model": "Freemium — free with 3 workouts/week, $3.99/mo unlimited + insights",
      "competition_notes": "Strong Timer+ and Intervals Pro exist but focus on pre-set timers, not adaptive HR-based rest",
      "mvp_scope": "Watch app with HR monitoring during rest, vibration alert when ready, basic iOS companion for history",
      "next_step": "Run the product-agent skill with idea: 'Apple Watch app that tracks heart rate recovery between sets and suggests optimal rest periods based on real-time HR data' for watchOS + iOS"
    },
    {
      "rank": 2,
      "idea": "Walking Meetings Tracker",
      "lens": "problem_first",
      "one_liner": "Track steps, route, and calories during meetings — share walking meeting summaries with attendees",
      "platform": "iOS + watchOS",
      "problem_statement": "Walking meetings are popular for health but there's no way to track the health benefit or share it. Calendar apps don't connect to HealthKit.",
      "target_user": "Knowledge workers and managers who take walking meetings",
      "feasibility": {
        "solo_dev_scope": "STRONG (5 weeks — HealthKit + MapKit + Calendar integration)",
        "platform_api_fit": "EXCELLENT (HealthKit, MapKit, EventKit, WidgetKit)",
        "monetization_viability": "MODERATE (niche audience, $2.99 one-time or $1.99/mo)",
        "competition_density": "EXCELLENT (no dedicated walking meeting app exists)",
        "technical_fit": "STRONG (HealthKit skills transfer, MapKit is new but manageable)"
      },
      "overall_score": 7.6,
      "monetization_model": "One-time purchase $4.99 with optional $1.99/mo for team features",
      "competition_notes": "Pedometer apps exist but none integrate with calendar or frame walking as meetings",
      "mvp_scope": "Start/stop walking meeting, auto-detect from calendar, log steps + route, share summary",
      "next_step": "Run the product-agent skill with idea: 'iOS app that tracks steps, route, and calories during walking meetings and shares summaries with attendees' for iOS + watchOS"
    },
    {
      "rank": 3,
      "idea": "Gym Equipment Wait Time",
      "lens": "market_gap",
      "one_liner": "Crowdsourced gym equipment availability — see which machines are free before you go",
      "platform": "iOS",
      "problem_statement": "Gyms are crowded at peak hours. No way to know if the squat rack is free without going. Leads to wasted time and frustration.",
      "target_user": "Gym members at commercial gyms (Planet Fitness, LA Fitness, Equinox)",
      "feasibility": {
        "solo_dev_scope": "MODERATE (8 weeks — needs crowdsource mechanics and gym database)",
        "platform_api_fit": "MODERATE (MapKit for gym location, but core logic is custom)",
        "monetization_viability": "STRONG (subscription or gym partnership revenue)",
        "competition_density": "STRONG (no quality solution exists — GymBook is workout logg