Capstone: Build and Launch a SaaS Product
Integrate product, frontend, backend, data, billing, security, deployment, and operations into a coherent launch
Capstone Requirements and Architecture
Build a multi-tenant project workspace: users register, create organizations, invite members, assign roles, manage projects/tasks, view usage, and manage subscriptions.
How to apply it
Use React/Next.js and TypeScript, Node.js with Express/NestJS, MongoDB or PostgreSQL selected by access patterns, a queue/worker for invitations and exports, and CI/CD. Produce journeys, domain model, API contracts, permission matrix, and wireframes before implementation.
Worked example
Core stories include verified signup, organization creation, tenant-safe project CRUD, role enforcement, billing entitlements, authorized export, and immutable audit events.
Common mistakes to avoid
Choosing infrastructure before the workflow or leaving tenant isolation until the end.
Practice task
Implement this concept in the capstone. Add one positive test, one negative or failure-path test, and a short note explaining the trade-off you chose.
- Build a multi-tenant project workspace: users register, create organizations, invite members, assign roles, manage projects/tasks, view usage, and manage subscriptions.
- Use React/Next.
What is the strongest production practice for Capstone Requirements and Architecture?
Implementation Milestones
Deliver in increments: discovery, design, foundation, identity/tenancy, core workflow, billing/async jobs, and production-readiness review.
How to apply it
Every milestone ends with a demo, tests, known risks, and a next-step decision. Include lint/type checks, logs, error handling, safe migrations, verified webhooks, and an operational runbook.
Worked example
A six-week plan can reserve early time for discovery/design, then identity and core workflow, followed by billing and hardening before staged rollout.
Common mistakes to avoid
Building all features in parallel without integration checkpoints.
Practice task
Implement this concept in the capstone. Add one positive test, one negative or failure-path test, and a short note explaining the trade-off you chose.
- Deliver in increments: discovery, design, foundation, identity/tenancy, core workflow, billing/async jobs, and production-readiness review.
- Every milestone ends with a demo, tests, known risks, and a next-step decision.
What is the strongest production practice for Implementation Milestones?
Launch Gates and Post-Launch Learning
Before launch verify cross-tenant tests, recovery, backup restore, safe billing state, alerts, runbooks, support, cancellation, retention, accessibility, and critical end-to-end journeys.
How to apply it
Track unresolved risks with owners. Do not launch with known cross-tenant defects, exposed production secrets, unverified payment state, or no recovery path for critical data. After launch monitor activation, errors, support, churn, and cost per active organization.
Worked example
If onboarding abandonment rises, inspect the funnel, interview affected users, ship a focused change, and measure activation plus guardrails.
Common mistakes to avoid
Adding unrelated features before understanding customer friction or treating a few early fans as proof of product-market fit.
Practice task
Implement this concept in the capstone. Add one positive test, one negative or failure-path test, and a short note explaining the trade-off you chose.
- Before launch verify cross-tenant tests, recovery, backup restore, safe billing state, alerts, runbooks, support, cancellation, retention, accessibility, and critical end-to-end journeys.
- Track unresolved risks with owners.
What is the strongest production practice for Launch Gates and Post-Launch Learning?