First principles for technical product development

Technical product work fails when the team treats product direction, architecture, and staffing as separate decisions.

The useful work is usually more basic:

• Name the customer workflow.
• Find the technical constraint that will actually matter.
• Build the smallest proof that reduces risk.
• Make the roadmap match the team you really have.

The goal is not a perfect plan. The goal is a plan that can survive contact with customers, engineers, investors, and time.