I built a PRD generator for indie devs (the way I already do it)
I build things lean, one week at a time.
The Indie10k PRD Generator is a codification of my internal ritual: thinking from first principles, cutting scope, and shipping with clarity.
It’s not “another PRD tool” — it’s how I do it, and I think other indie devs will benefit from seeing & using the system.
What is this thing
Describe your idea in 5-10 lines.
The tool runs a first-principles thinking pass (hidden by default).
It then generates a one-page, shippable spec you actually build in a week.
Format is opinionated: Problem → User & Job → Success Metric (7 days) → Solution → Scope v1 → Risks → Next steps.
No fluff. No sprawling docs. Just momentum.
Why I built it this way
First principles thinking by default
Most PRD tools flood you with optional sections you might never use. I believe that the best ideas survive when you strip away everything non-essential. So unless something is essential, it doesn’t make it into v1.Focus on weekly ship
If it won’t fit or be built in one week, I either delay or drop it. The structure forces you to scope V1 lean.Single metric, actionable next steps
Success metric with a time window (7 days), risks identified, and explicit next steps. Because without those, “PRD” is just a doc, not a compass.Shareable, repeatable, simple format
Copy / export to Markdown. Same structure every time. Keeps me aligned, especially when delegating work or handing off to Claude Code. No surprises.
How I use this internally before coding
Whenever I have an idea:
I open a doc or this generator.
I write down the basic idea (5-10 lines), along with current constraints: time, resources, existing dependencies.
I use the generator or my internal equivalent to run “first-principles analysis” + define the one metric I’ll measure in 7 days.
I sketch out “Solution” and “Scope v1” tightly so it's buildable.
I write out Risks & Next Steps.
Then I pass the PRD to Claude Code or start coding myself.
Because of this ritual, I rarely overbuild, don’t get lost while building, and have a built-in kill/iterate call whenever metrics or feedback are ugly.
What makes it different from other PRD tools
It doesn’t give you options for everything. It gives you what I believe matters most.
It doesn’t idolize completeness — the goal is clarity + speed.
It’s made for solo/small builders, not PMs with committees. Indie constraints baked in.
Would you use something like this?
I’m curious:
As an indie dev, do you find this structure helpful — or constraining?
Do you prefer totally freeform PRDs, or ones that are opinionated like this?
If you tried this generator, what would make you come back and use it for every idea?
