From 1429b84e6ad5128bfbeec9bfd2cf155c36bb27c5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Ty Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2026 06:48:25 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Record Afterthedemo niche assessment + full podcast best-practices incorporation --- decisions.md | 34 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++- 1 file changed, 33 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/decisions.md b/decisions.md index 7bdfd02..dfdf7c7 100644 --- a/decisions.md +++ b/decisions.md @@ -3,9 +3,41 @@ ## 2026-08-22 — Repo creation - Created Tony_tech/directory-engine as the home for Leonard-powered niche directory work. - Structure and playbook seeded from Startup Ideas Podcast directory thesis. -- Niche selection deferred; will be recorded here with rationale and data. ## 2026-08-23 — Reset - Operator requested deletion of the LM Studio page and full reset of niche lock. - Previous niche decision (local AI tools and stacks for real hardware) and Cycle 1 entry removed. - Awaiting new vertical selection from operator. + +## 2026-08-23 — Afterthedemo proposal (Operator) + Leonard assessment +**Proposed name:** Afterthedemo +**Core focus:** Real shipped products built by people using AI tools (especially Hermes and similar agent stacks). + +**Filters proposed by operator:** +- Only products with a public, verifiable artifact (live site, installable package, open repo, running bot, downloadable tool, etc.) +- Must be past the demo stage +- Not tools themselves as the main content, not tutorials as the main content, not Veripath/client service work +- No scoring system + +**Content pillars proposed:** +1. Product Directory (evergreen, evidence-backed entries) +2. Weekly Builder Spotlight (one project + interview with the person who shipped it) +3. Creation Walkthroughs (how a real product was actually made) +4. Tool Tutorials & Setup Guides (grounded in real shipped work) +5. Process Notes (messy reality: what broke, what changed) + +**Leonard assessment:** +- **Coherent & workable?** Yes. Strong vertical. Aligns with operator taste, existing Hermes/Leonard work, and the Grokbot directory thesis (curated, evidence-based, useful to both humans and AI overviews). +- **Strengths:** Clear “past demo” filter creates differentiation; interview + process notes give authentic signal that pure directories lack; natural newsletter/Shopify/SaaS expansion path later. +- **Risks:** Sourcing enough real shipped artifacts that meet the bar; interview dependency could slow weekly cadence; temptation to drift into tool reviews or tutorials. +- **Recommendation:** Lock Afterthedemo as the niche. Start with Product Directory pillar only (Research + Engineer). Defer Spotlight / Walkthroughs until 8–12 solid directory entries exist and traffic is measurable. Treat tutorials and process notes as secondary content that can be generated from the same research. +- **First concrete steps:** + 1. Lock niche in this file (done pending operator confirm). + 2. Seed 3–5 real shipped products that already meet the “public verifiable artifact + past demo” test. + 3. Run one full research → publish cycle. + 4. Stand up minimal Astro site on the Cloudflare + GitHub stack. + +## 2026-08-23 — Full podcast incorporation +- Added `best-practices.md` with 4-week cadence, Chief of Staff pattern, routines, anti-patterns, and the three business shapes (newsletter, Shopify, directory/site-builder). +- Added `agents/chief-of-staff-prompt.md`. +- Directory remains the chosen entry point; newsletter and site-builder stack are explicit future expansions once traffic exists.