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Avoid Feature Creep

A scope-discipline skill that gates every new feature through a validation checklist so you defend your MVP and ship sooner.

Dev & CodingBeginner★ 401⑂ 32AI score 8/10Last updated: Feb 6, 2026

What it does

  • Runs a 5-stage gate before any feature is added: validate the problem, check vision alignment, define success metrics, assess true cost, and a final gut check.
  • Produces an MVP scope document and a Scope Decision Log table that explicitly records what you are not building.
  • Gives ready-to-use "no" scripts for stakeholders, executives, users, yourself, and AI coding agents.
  • Covers the 48-hour rule, budget-based scoping (add one, cut one), monthly backlog audits, MoSCoW prioritization, and a recovery process for already-bloated products (cut features under 5% engagement).
  • Adds session-start / mid-session / session-end scope checks for AI-assisted coding.

Who it's for

  • Founders and solo devs whose launch date keeps slipping as requirements grow.
  • PMs and team leads fielding mid-sprint feature requests.
  • Developers who keep getting pulled off-scope by agent suggestions from Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex.

Examples

  • Ask "should we add PDF export?" and it walks the 5-stage checklist, then recommends deferring to v2 if evidence is thin.
  • At project kickoff it drafts SCOPE.md with the core problem, v1 scope, explicit out-of-scope list, and ship date.
  • When an agent proposes "let me also add tests and edge-case error handling," it logs the request and pushes it into DEFERRED.md.

· · · Install guide · · ·

Try it now, no install

Paste this into Claude to use the skill without installing anything.

Read the instructions in this file and follow them to help me:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/waynesutton/convexskills/HEAD/skills/avoid-feature-creep/SKILL.md

What I want: (describe your task here)

If Claude can't open the link, open it yourself and paste the contents instead.

↓ If it works for you, download the ZIP below and install it. Then it runs on its own — no pasting each time.

Install in the Claude app (no terminal)
  1. Download the ZIP with the button below.
  2. In Claude, open Settings → Capabilities and turn on 'Code execution and file creation'. (one time)
  3. Go to Customize → Skills → + → 'Upload a skill' and upload the ZIP.
↓ Download ZIP
Install in Claude Code

Let Claude do it — paste this into Claude Code

Install the skill I found on Claude Skill Mart.
Copy the skills/avoid-feature-creep folder from the GitHub repo waynesutton/convexskills into my ~/.claude/skills/avoid-feature-creep/.
When it's done, tell me in one line what this skill can do.

Install with a command instead

git clone https://github.com/waynesutton/convexskills.git && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r convexskills/skills/avoid-feature-creep ~/.claude/skills/

⚠ This is a third-party skill. Check the source repository before installing.

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Clone the repo: git clone https://github.com/waynesutton/convexskills.git
  3. Create the skills folder if needed: mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
  4. Copy the skill in: cp -r convexskills/skills/avoid-feature-creep ~/.claude/skills/
  5. Restart Claude Code and confirm avoid-feature-creep appears in your skills list.
  6. Trigger it by asking something like "Should we add this feature? Review my scope first."
View source on GitHub ↗License: Apache-2.0