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A step-by-step guide to taking your idea from concept to launched product.

Phase 1: Planning

Define Your Goal

Before opening Kleap, answer:
  1. What problem does this solve?
  2. Who is it for?
  3. What are the must-have features?
  4. What can wait for later?

Feature Prioritization

Use the MoSCoW method:
PriorityFeatures
Must HaveCore functionality that makes it work
Should HaveImportant but not essential at launch
Could HaveNice to have if time permits
Won’t HaveSave for future versions

Example: Task Manager App

PriorityFeatures
Must HaveCreate tasks, mark complete, delete
Should HaveDue dates, categories
Could HaveReminders, sharing
Won’t HaveMobile app, integrations

Phase 2: Setup

Choose Your Starting Point

Start with a template if one matches your idea:
  • SaaS Template - User auth, dashboard, billing
  • Landing Page - Marketing sites
  • E-commerce - Product sales

Initial Prompt

Start with a high-level description:
I'm building a task management app for freelancers.
Create the basic structure with:
- A clean landing page
- Navigation with Home, Features, Pricing, Login
- Footer with links and social icons

Phase 3: Build Core Features

Work in Layers

1

Layout First

Build navigation, footer, page structure
2

Pages Next

Create main pages with placeholder content
3

Components

Build reusable UI components
4

Data Layer

Connect database, define schema
5

Functionality

Add interactions, forms, logic

Example Build Sequence

1. "Create a dashboard layout with sidebar navigation"

2. "Add a tasks list component showing task name, due date, and status"

3. "Create a Supabase table for tasks with fields: id, title,
   description, due_date, status, user_id"

4. "Connect the tasks list to fetch from the database"

5. "Add a form to create new tasks"

6. "Add the ability to mark tasks as complete"

One Feature at a Time

Don’t rush. Complete each feature before moving on:
  1. Build it
  2. Test it
  3. Fix any issues
  4. Then move on

Phase 4: User Authentication

If your app needs users:
"Add user authentication with:
- Sign up with email/password
- Login page
- Protect the dashboard route
- Show user's name in the header"
Ensure data belongs to users:
"Update the tasks table to include user_id and add RLS
policies so users only see their own tasks"

Phase 5: Polish

Visual Refinement

"Improve the overall design:
- Add consistent spacing between sections
- Use a cohesive color palette (blue primary)
- Add hover states to buttons and links
- Ensure good contrast for accessibility"

Responsive Design

"Make sure all pages work well on mobile:
- Collapsible navigation
- Stacked layouts on small screens
- Appropriate text sizes"

Loading States

"Add loading skeletons while data is being fetched"

Error Handling

"Add proper error handling:
- Show error messages if data fails to load
- Validate forms before submission
- Handle network errors gracefully"

Phase 6: Testing

Manual Testing Checklist

  • All pages load without errors
  • Forms submit correctly
  • Data saves and loads properly
  • Auth flow works (signup → login → logout)
  • Protected routes redirect properly
  • Mobile layout works
  • All buttons/links work

Test Edge Cases

  • Empty states (no data)
  • Long content
  • Invalid input
  • Slow network
  • Different browsers

Phase 7: Launch Prep

Environment Variables

Ensure all secrets are in environment variables:
"Move any hardcoded API keys to environment variables"

SEO

"Add SEO metadata to all pages including title,
description, and Open Graph tags"

Analytics

"Add Vercel Analytics to track page views"

Phase 8: Launch

Deploy to Production

  1. Click Publish
  2. Wait for build to complete
  3. Test the live site

Custom Domain (Optional)

  1. Add domain in settings
  2. Configure DNS
  3. Wait for SSL certificate

Announce Your Launch

  • Share on social media
  • Post on relevant communities
  • Tell your network

Phase 9: Iterate

Gather Feedback

  • Watch how users interact
  • Collect feature requests
  • Track errors with monitoring

Plan Next Features

Go back to your “Should Have” list:
"Now add due date reminders that notify users
via email one day before"

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Launch with minimum viable features. You can always add more.
Test thoroughly before launch. First impressions matter.
Many users browse on phones. Always check mobile layout.
Always enable RLS. One security hole can ruin your app.

Timeline Expectations

A simple app can go from idea to launch in:
  • Landing page: 1-2 hours
  • Simple app (no auth): 2-4 hours
  • App with auth & database: 4-8 hours
  • Complex app: Multiple sessions
Build incrementally. Don’t rush.

Best Practices

More tips for successful building