Node.js · CLI · Solo
BeforeCode
A context-first planning CLI for humans and AI coding agents. It captures the idea, asks for what is missing, then writes build-ready docs.
Project overview
BeforeCode is my planning CLI for humans and AI coding agents. It captures the context behind an idea before turning it into a connected set of build documents.
Start with context, preserve uncertainty
The interactive start flow asks about users, the problem, MVP scope, exclusions and technical preferences. An existing idea file can also seed that process. Missing information is recorded as TBD instead of silently becoming a made-up requirement.
The generated documentation connects project context and open questions to the brief, requirements, UX flows, permission model, data model, API documentation and QA plan. Keeping that relationship explicit gives a developer or coding agent a clearer starting point than a list of disconnected templates.
Make the handoff inspectable
The CLI includes commands to check the document set, score readiness, diagnose setup and prepare a handoff. A dry run previews generated files without writing them. Example packs and a CLI usage guide show the intended workflow.
A planning tool can expose gaps; it cannot make uncertain product decisions correct by itself. The documents still need review against the actual users and constraints before implementation begins.
What I built
- 239 npm downloads in the last year
Sources and live demo
Stack
- Node.js
- CLI
- npm