The capstone. Scope something small enough to finish and real enough to matter, then take it from wireframe to tested, described, and shipped.
this section you build something real :: your capstone project. The most common mistake beginners make: scoping too big. A focused, finished product beats an ambitious, half-built one every time.
Before writing a single line of code, fill out: (1) What does it do in one sentence? (2) Who is it for? (3) What's the one main action a user takes? (4) What are you NOT building? That last one is the most important.
Help me scope a web app project. My idea: [describe it]. Help me: 1. Write a one-sentence description of what it does 2. Define the one core user action 3. List 3 features for the MVP (minimum viable version) 4. List 3 features to cut from the MVP (save for later) 5. Estimate if this is buildable in a week for a beginner Be honest if I'm scoping too big.
A wireframe is a rough sketch of what your app will look like :: boxes and labels, no colors or details. Spending 30 minutes wireframing before coding saves hours of rebuilding later.
Go to whimsical.com → New → Wireframe. Drag boxes, add labels, draw arrows showing user flow.
Landing/home → main app screen → result/success state. Even 3 simple boxes helps clarify what you're building.
Screenshot your wireframe and paste it into Claude. Ask: "Based on this wireframe, what HTML structure and components should I build first?"
Before you share anything, test it yourself :: systematically. Not just "does it work," but "what happens when someone uses it wrong?"
You built something. Now tell people about it in a way that makes them want to try it. One paragraph, written like a human, not a press release.
Write a product description for my app: [describe it]. Target reader: [who would use this] Write: - 1 punchy opener sentence - 2-3 sentences on what it does and why it's useful - 1 sentence on what makes it different or interesting Keep it under 80 words. Sound like a founder, not a marketer.
Use any combination of: HTML/CSS/JS, Claude API, Airtable, Make automations, Netlify/Replit. Make it genuinely useful :: even for one person (you).