Imagine you want to build a house. You wouldn't tell a builder "I want a house with windows and a roof." You'd provide detailed architectural plans. In software, the feature list is that plan.
Start with Outcomes
What must users be able to achieve in the first release? Keep it measurable.
Example:
Problem: People living alone waste food because online recipes serve 4-6 portions.
Solution: An app that auto-adjusts any recipe ingredients for a single serving.
Target Audience: Young professionals, students (18-35 years).
Define Entities and Relationships
List the core objects (users, orders, requests, etc.) and how they relate.
For our recipe app:
- User: Has saved recipes, preferences
- Recipe: Contains ingredients, steps, serving size
- Ingredient: Name, quantity, unit
Draft the Feature List
Group features by areas and mark priority: Must / Should / Later.
Authentication and roles
User login, password recovery, basic permissions
Data model: main entities and relations
Users, recipes, ingredients, saved collections
Integrations (if any) and constraints
Third-party recipe APIs, payment gateways
Prioritize for MVP
Pick the smallest set that delivers clear value to the initial users.
MoSCoW Method:
Must-Have:
Without these, the app is useless. Non-negotiable for first launch.
Should-Have:
Important features that add significant value, but launch doesn't depend on them.
Could-Have:
Good ideas with less impact. Can be added in future versions if there's demand.
Won't-Have:
Features clearly out of scope for the initial version.
Validate with User Journeys
Walk through flows using only MVP features. Fill the gaps, remove the nice-to-haves.
Example Journey:
User discovers the app → Signs up
Searches for "pasta recipe"
Selects recipe → Adjusts to 1 serving
Views adjusted ingredients
Saves recipe to favorites