prototype

A throwaway prototype is a minimal, in-memory model used to flesh out design decisions before committing. You need one to explore design questions rapidly without building permanent scaffolding, allowing low-risk evaluation of different approaches.

You create a quick prototype by running a single start command that executes an in-memory state machine. This lets you branch between a runnable logic prototype and a UI prototype, swapping approaches to evaluate design tradeoffs directly.

Yes, in-memory state is used for rapid prototyping to avoid database setup. It requires minimal scaffolding and a single-start command, allowing you to test UI and logic branches immediately while keeping the experimentation low-risk.

The best way to evaluate tradeoffs is using a two-branch workflow that swaps between runnable logic and UI prototypes. This approach lets you directly compare design decisions in a throwaway, in-memory environment before committing to a final solution.

No, external dependencies are not required. You can extend a throwaway prototype using optional scripts, references, or assets, but the core functionality relies on a single-start command and in-memory state without needing additional components.

You should avoid throwaway prototypes when you need persistent data storage or permanent application scaffolding. Because they use in-memory state and minimal scaffolding, they are designed for low-risk, temporary experimentation rather than committed production solutions.