For When The Good Idea Fairy Shows Up

A flowchart designed to filter out the "good ideas" that aren't actually good. Step 1: Does it solve a problem? If no, trash it. If yes, proceed. Step 2: Does a solution already exist? If yes, trash it. But notice the dotted line—"I didn't check"—because who has time for research when you're riding the innovation high? Step 3: Why not build it? "Because I like my idea better" loops you right back to the garbage bin.

The only path that survives is "newly identified problem" leading to gap analysis. Translation: unless you've discovered an actual gap in the universe, your brilliant 2 AM refactor can go straight to /dev/null. The flowchart knows what you refuse to admit—most "good ideas" are just reinventing the wheel with extra dependencies.