Principles & Frameworks
Core principles and operating frameworks distilled from real project work, designed to compound across every engagement.
These are not theoretical guidelines. They are principles distilled from real project delivery — patterns that emerged from mistakes made, lessons learned, and workflows that proved their worth across multiple engagements. Each one compounds: the more consistently they are applied, the more value they generate over time.
Core Principles
| Principle | Summary |
|---|---|
| Compounding Engineering | Build guidance from real mistakes, not upfront speculation. Let documentation grow organically from actual needs. |
| Verification Over Instruction | Give AI a way to verify its work rather than a long list of instructions. Success conditions beat specifications. |
| Dissent is a Feature | Structurally encourage and document dissent. Record overruled concerns for future reference. |
| Answer First | Every document must have the conclusion in the first body section. Never bury the lead. |
Frameworks
Synthesis & Validation
Living document templates (DECISIONS.md, PERSONAS.md, PRINCIPLES.md), sprint synthesis workflow, four-pillar validation (Clarity, Attribution, Reversibility, Consistency), PAGE-TREE pattern, and PR checklists.
Journey Mapping Template
A reusable structure for mapping any part of a system from user need to validated outcome, including a complete markdown template.
Read the Journey Mapping Template
New Project Checklist
The step-by-step bootstrap sequence that ties together Field Notes patterns into a single startup workflow — from stack decisions through first sprint.