
Studio-Grade Dev Process. Solo Dev Scale.
A 6-phase development process adapted from EA, Blizzard, and LEGO, built for indie developers. Real projects documented from concept to launch, mistakes included.
The 6-Phase Development Pipeline
Explore the Full MethodologyAI Token Optimization Guide
Phase-specific strategies for reducing AI credit usage by 50%. Spend tokens building, not re-discovering context.
Latest from the Journal
View All EntriesClosing the Estimation Loop: When the Rule Isn't Enough
Two weeks ago I wrote a rule about quoting two estimates. Then I noticed I still wasn't measuring whether my numbers were getting better. A rule without a feedback loop is a vibe. Here's the three-template loop I added to Phase 2 to turn estimates into data.
Wall-Clock vs. Effort: Why I Started Quoting Two Estimates
I quoted '5-7 hours' for a prototype, delegated it to an agent, and finished in 30 minutes. The number wasn't wrong, but it didn't tell anyone what they were actually committing to. Here's the two-number rule I now use for every estimate over half an hour.
Ten Sprints: From Crystal Shader to World Select
Glyntfall hit Sprint 10. What started as one crystal and one shatter is now a multi-world game with 5 orb types, 5 evolution abilities, surge difficulty, a meta-upgrade tree, and 488 tests. Here's what ten sprints of solo game development actually looks like.
Built with the Playbook
View PortfolioPulsecheck
LaunchedMulti-tenant feedback platform for indie developers. Embed a widget, collect bug reports and feature requests, manage everything from one dashboard.
Freely
LaunchedAI-powered allergy-aware calorie tracker. Log meals via text, photo, or barcode scan. Spot hidden allergens across 7 categories. Know what's safe before you eat.
The Playbook Is Open Source
Six phases, 39 step guides, 22 templates. The entire development process is free on GitHub. Clone it, fork it, use it on your next project.