Idea gates

Idea Gates

Validate the idea before designing or building it. Kill, narrow, or strengthen weak Odoo module/product ideas using evidence.

Use this skill before implementing a new Odoo module, OCA addon, marketplace app, internal tool, or SaaS/product idea connected to an Odoo workflow.

First Move

Gather discoverable facts before asking:

• Search the current repo for related addons, models, views, settings, wizards, server actions, cron jobs, integrations, and docs.
• Check whether the idea is already solved by Odoo standard, Enterprise, Studio/configuration, an OCA addon, an Odoo Apps module, or an existing custom addon.
• Detect the Odoo version, edition, industry, and target workflow if visible from branch names, manifests, docs, or config.
• If $ODOO_SOURCE is set, inspect framework features before assuming a custom addon is needed.

If evidence is missing, ask exactly one high-leverage question at a time. Include your recommended answer or likely disqualifier.

Gate Workflow

Apply gates in order. Stop early when an idea clearly fails unless the user asks to continue.

Gate	Pass Test	Kill Signal
1. Insider advantage	User has firsthand workflow experience or direct access to users.	Idea came from marketplace browsing, generic interest, or guessed workflow details.
2. Existing solution search	Clear gap remains after checking Odoo standard, Enterprise, Studio/configuration, OCA, Odoo Apps, custom addons, and adjacent tools.	The solution already exists and can be used, configured, bought, or contributed to.
3. Existing spend	Buyers already spend time, money, or consultant budget on adjacent pain.	No one pays for anything near the problem; demand must be created.
4. Reachable buyers	User can name 50 likely buyers/users and reach five for discovery within a week.	Buyer is abstract or distribution depends on marketplace luck.
5. Wedge narrowness	v1 is narrow by Odoo version, edition, industry, model/workflow, role, company size, and workaround.	It serves many industries, roles, or workflows; example bad wedge: project management for Odoo users.
6. Odoo fit	Smallest correct shape is clear: config, Studio, extension, OCA contribution, server action, wizard/report tweak, or new addon.	It fights standard Odoo workflow, needs fragile view hacks, broad sudo(), or unnecessary new domain models.
7. Build/maintenance cost	Security, multi-company, migrations, integrations, reporting/accounting/stock risk, and testability are proportionate.	Small pain requires deep risky changes or upgrades would consume the business.
8. Value equation	(Dream Outcome x Perceived Likelihood) / (Time Delay x Effort) is strong and first value is under 30 minutes.	Buyer must reorganize Odoo, clean lots of data, or rely on consultant-led rollout before seeing value.

Good wedge format: Resource utilization tracking for 5-15 person web dev agencies using Odoo Project, Timesheets, and Harvest.

Question Prompts

Use only the prompts needed to unblock the next gate:

• What exact Odoo workflow have you personally used, sold, supported, implemented, or watched users struggle through?
• Which role feels the pain: accountant, salesperson, warehouse operator, project manager, consultant, portal user, partner, or admin?
• Can you name three adjacent spends: Enterprise seats, Studio, paid apps, OCA maintenance, custom development, partner retainers, admin time, spreadsheets, external SaaS, or middleware?
• Can you name 50 target companies, partners, implementers, or Odoo users within a week?
• What one dimension can be 10x better than existing Odoo/OCA/App Store alternatives?
• Could configuration, Studio, an existing addon extension, or OCA contribution solve this without a new module?
• What data must already exist in Odoo, and can a real user see value within 30 minutes?

Output Format

End with one verdict:

• kill: do not build; explain the fatal gate.
• narrow: preserve the insight but shrink the wedge.
• research: evidence is missing; list the smallest validation step.
• proceed: define the first addon boundary and validation plan.

Include:

• Gate results with pass/fail/unknown.
• Existing alternatives found or still needing search.
• The narrowest viable wedge.
• The first validation action before implementation.
• The main Odoo technical risk if the idea proceeds.

Biases

• Prefer boring, specific Odoo workflow pain over broad platform ideas.
• Prefer capturing existing demand over creating demand.
• Prefer configuration, contribution, or extension over a new addon when sufficient.
• Prefer one 10x improvement for one role over a broad feature set.
• Treat missing buyer access as a product risk, not a marketing detail.