Three rules.
Zero exceptions._
These aren't aspirations. They're constraints. Every product decision gets measured against them. If a feature violates one of these rules, the feature gets cut.
Optional by default.
We don't believe in mandatory features. AI assistance is something you turn on when it helps — not a default that hides under every menu. Same for themes: you pick the colors, the contrast, the vibe. We ship sane defaults, not decisions made on your behalf.
Every product we make has an off switch for the parts that aren't load-bearing. If a feature can't be disabled, it's because removing it would break the tool — not because we wanted to make a decision for you.
Local first, always.
Local-first means the app boots, operates, and saves without a network call. We don't use sync as a crutch to avoid hard architectural problems.
Offline is the default. The cloud is an intentional choice you make when you need it — not something imposed on you because a vendor needed a recurring revenue line.
One command to install.
npx. brew. curl. Pick one, done. No "clone the repo", no "configure your environment", no Makefile with fourteen targets. No Docker compose file with six services before the tool even starts.
If you hit a wall in the first five minutes, that's our bug to fix — not your environment to debug.