---
{
  "n": 4,
  "title": "Functional design, then technical implementation",
  "abstract": "",
  "refs": [],
  "seen": [
    "system",
    "agent"
  ],
  "data": {
    "applies_to": [
      "plan"
    ]
  },
  "created": 1790028727.6258419,
  "updated": 1790091498.312781,
  "deleted": 0.0,
  "completed": 1790091498.3127732,
  "outcome": "replaced by the Functional design doc template",
  "type": "template"
}
---
Research first, and write nothing technical until the functional design is approved. The first phase studies what is asked and writes a functional doc: what the user sees and does, in their words, with the open questions asked through the journal. It ends at a checkpoint where the user approves the doc. Only then does the second phase file the technical to-dos, each citing the part of the doc it builds, and build and test them.

## Functional design (checkpoint)
the functional doc is written and the user has approved it

## Technical implementation
every technical to-do is built and tested against the functional doc