5.7 KiB
MVP Scope v2: Realistic Timeline
Date: November 2, 2025
Status: 🔄 Planning - Based on actual dev capacity
Version: 2.0 (replaces 09-mvp-scope.md)
Current State (Nov 2)
DONE:
- ✅ API endpoints for generation
- ✅ Prompt Enhancement (working, always on)
- ✅ 6 Aspect Ratios (Gemini native)
- ✅ MinIO storage connected
- ✅ Web UI base exists
BLOCKERS:
- 🔴 DB schema update (2 days)
- 🔴 Endpoints align with DB (2 days)
Total blockers: 4 days before new features
Feature Priorities
Priority A: BLOCKING REVENUE (Must-have for first $ )
1. Prompt URLs (3 days after blocker)
- Universal entry point
- Works without MCP/SDK
- Validated by ImageKit success
- Simplest for users
2. Manual Payments (1 day)
- Stripe invoice manual
- Email API key
- Track usage manually
3. Auth basics (0 days)
- Manual API key generation
- Email to user
- No admin UI needed yet
TOTAL: 4 days work
TIMELINE: Week 1 after blockers clear
Priority B: AUTOMATION (Week 2-3)
4. MCP Server (3 days)
- Cursor/Claude Code integration
- Primary for Segment B/D
- Differentiator vs stock photos MCP
5. SDK (2 days)
- TypeScript/Python
- Programmatic generation
- For technical users
6. CLI (2 days)
- Terminal workflows
- Nice-to-have for power users
7. Automated Payments (2-3 days)
- Stripe Checkout integration
- Auto API key generation
- Usage tracking
TOTAL: 9-10 days work
TIMELINE: Weeks 2-3
Priority C: PRODUCTION (Week 4+)
8. CDN (1 day)
- Cloudflare integration
- MinIO → CDN pipeline
- Better performance
9. Image Transformations (1 day)
- Service already selected
- Resize, format, optimize
10. Focal Point Detection (2-3 days)
- AI determines focus (face, product)
- Smart cropping for aspect ratios
- Quality feature for agencies
11. Admin UI (3-5 days)
- API key management
- Usage dashboard
- User management
TOTAL: 7-10 days work
TIMELINE: Week 4+
Priority D: POST-MVP (After validation)
12. @references Consistency System
- Only if validated need
- Estimate: 1-2 weeks
13. Team Features
- For agencies (Segment A)
- Multi-user accounts
- Estimate: 1 week
14. WordPress Plugin
- If high demand
- Estimate: 1 week
Non-Tech Requirements (Day 8)
Landing Page (2 hours)
Single page with:
- Hero: "Generate professional images without leaving Cursor"
- What it does: 3 bullet points (enhancement, aspect ratios, CDN)
- Pricing: Free/Credits/Pro (3 lines)
- CTA: Email signup
Tech: Single HTML, Tailwind, Vercel deploy
Documentation (2 hours)
Single page with:
- Prompt URLs format + example
- API curl example
- "Email us for API key"
No: Advanced usage, troubleshooting, examples library
Signup Flow (30 min)
- Google Form: Name, Email, Use case
- Auto-reply: "API key within 24h"
- Manual review → Invoice → API key
Launch Sequence
Week 1: Ultra-Minimal Launch (Experiment)
This is NOT:
- ❌ Mass launch (no Product Hunt)
- ❌ Professional site (simple = OK)
- ❌ 100 users goal
This IS:
- ✅ Experiment with 3-5 early adopters
- ✅ Validation: will anyone pay?
- ✅ Discovery: which features matter?
Ready:
- Prompt URLs (tech)
- Landing page (2h)
- Docs page (2h)
- Signup form (30min)
Launch to:
- r/cursor (36K members)
- Discord Cursor channel
Reddit post template:
Title: Show HN: Generate images in Cursor without context switching
Problem: Stock photos generic. Midjourney = Discord workflow.
Solution: Prompt URLs with AI enhancement.
<img src="banatie.app/gen?prompt=hero+image&aspect=16:9" />
Early access: 10 free images. $20 for 200 after.
Looking for 5-10 early users for feedback.
Goal:
- 3-5 people try it
- 1 person pays (any amount)
- Clear feedback pattern
Week 2-3: Developer Tools
Add:
- MCP Server
- SDK
- CLI
- Automated payments
Launch to:
- Broader developer audience
- Product Hunt (maybe)
Goal: 10-20 paying users
Week 4+: Production Features
Add:
- CDN
- Transformations
- Focal point
- Admin UI
Launch to:
- Agencies (Segment A)
- Broader market
Goal: 50+ users, validate segments
Success Metrics by Phase
Week 1 (Minimal):
- 3-5 early adopters
- 1-2 paying (any amount)
- Positive feedback on quality
Week 2-3 (Developer):
- 10-20 users total
- 5+ paying
- MCP or SDK actively used
Week 4+ (Production):
- 50+ users
- 20+ paying
- Clear winner segment identified
Decision Points
After Week 1:
- Quality validated? (enhancement working?)
- Willing to pay? (any conversions?)
- GO/PIVOT decision
After Week 3:
- Which interface used most? (MCP vs Prompt URLs vs SDK)
- Which segment converts? (B/D vs A/C)
- Double down or adjust
After Week 4:
- Is there PMF signal?
- Revenue trajectory clear?
- Scale or rethink
What We're NOT Building (Yet)
❌ @references - no validated demand
❌ Multiple models - Gemini only
❌ Complex admin UI - manual OK
❌ Team features - single user first
❌ Integrations - API sufficient
❌ Advanced analytics - basic tracking OK
Principle: Ship fast, validate, iterate
Risks & Mitigation
Risk: Complexity creep (want to build everything)
Mitigation: Strict priority system, ship Week 1 no matter what
Risk: Payment complexity blocks launch
Mitigation: Manual invoices, automate later
Risk: No one wants to pay
Mitigation: Week 1 shows value, pivot if needed
Current Focus (Nov 2-6)
Days 1-2: Clear DB blocker
Days 3-4: Endpoint alignment
Days 5-7: Prompt URLs
Day 8: Manual payment setup
Target: Launch-ready by Nov 9-10
Owner: Oleg
Last updated: November 2, 2025
Next review: After Week 1 launch