The Best Route: A Hybrid

• Validate the problem in conversation before writing code

• Build a focused, polished slice of one workflow rather than a broad, thin product

• Get it in front of a small group of real users who feel the pain, not just friends

• Use AI to compress the build cycle so you can iterate weekly, not quarterly

• Treat polish as table stakes, not the goal

The goal is still learning, just at a higher production floor.