Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
A minimum viable product (MVP) is the absolute smallest version of an app that still solves the core problem. It includes the exact features necessary to prove the concept works and absolutely nothing else.
Why MVP scope matters when vibe coding
When you build with AI, it is dangerously easy to casually ask for a "nice-to-have" feature in the middle of a prompt. However, every new feature introduces new dependencies, alters the database schema, and increases the surface area for bugs. Without a locked MVP, scope creeps quietly. You end up with a massive, fragile application, and you spend your weekend debugging a broken notification bell when you haven't even stabilized the core checkout flow.
How to define MVP scope before you build
Sort your features into three rigid buckets before you write your first prompt:
Must have: The application is useless without these. This is your MVP.
Should have: Features that improve the experience but are not essential for day one.
Later: Pure distractions. Do not let the agent touch these yet.
You must also define exactly what your MVP will deliberately not do. An explicit out-of-scope list is the only way to stop an AI agent from hallucinating extra features just because they seem logically related.
Zalcro interrogates your product idea and locks down your MVP scope as part of the pre-build planning process, ensuring your agent builds the right first version instead of a tangled mess.