# Writing a good tool idea (Will / Won't / Build-next)

The better you describe your idea, the better your Spec → Scaffold starter fits. You don't need tech words — you need **sound words** and **one clear first win**. This takes about 5 minutes.

## The 3-line formula
1. **It's a…** what kind of sound-maker? (pad, drone, drum machine, metronome/click, sample pads)
2. **I use it to…** where it fits in your life (practice, sketching beats, recording into my DAW, live set, meditation)
3. **The one thing it must do first…** the smallest version you'd be happy to hear today

> ✅ *"It's an ambient pad machine. I use it to record evolving beds into Ableton. First it must play a slow, warm pad in a key I pick."*
> ❌ *"An AI-powered all-in-one DAW plugin with everything."*

## Will / Won't / Build-next
Write your idea in three short lists. This is exactly how we scope your order (see `SCOPE.md` in your zip).

| List | What to write | Example (click trainer) |
|---|---|---|
| **Will** (day 1) | 1–2 things the starter must do out of the box | Play a click at a BPM I choose; accent beat 1 |
| **Won't** (not now) | Things you're OK leaving out of v1 | No compiled VST/AU yet, no MIDI sync, no phone app |
| **Build-next** | 2–3 small features you'll add with the prompt chain | Tap-tempo; speed trainer that adds +2 BPM every 8 bars; swing |

Rules of thumb:
- **One feature per Build-next line.** "Add reverb" is good. "Add effects, presets and a sequencer" is three lines.
- **Name the sound, not the code.** "Bright, plucky, like a music box" beats "use a sine oscillator."
- **Say what you'll touch.** Sliders? Buttons? Keyboard keys? Pads you click?
- **Compiled VST/AU and mobile apps go in Won't for v1.** Spec → Scaffold delivers a playable browser prototype (step one toward a plugin)—the fastest way to hear an idea. Native VST/AU is the next path via the included JUCE resources; a compiled plugin is not in the $49 delivery. You can record prototype output into any DAW.

## Which engine will you get?
We match your words to one of four engines:

| If your idea says… | You get |
|---|---|
| pad, drone, ambient, atmosphere, evolving, soundscape | **Pad / drone** engine |
| drum, beat, kick, snare, hat, groove, percussion | **Drum machine** engine |
| click, metronome, tempo, BPM, practice pulse | **Click track** engine |
| sample, sampler, one-shot, trigger pads, load a WAV | **Sampler** engine |

Mixed idea (e.g. "drum machine with a pad")? Tell us which part matters **most** — that picks the engine; the other part becomes a Build-next step.

## Copy-paste intake template
```
Tool name: 
It's a: 
I use it to: 
Will (day 1): 1)            2) 
Won't (not now): 
Build-next: 1)            2)            3) 
Sounds like (a song, gear, or adjectives): 
```

Questions before you order? vibepatching@gmail.com — Vibepatch