An MVP is the smallest coherent solution that tests a risky assumption while delivering a useful outcome.

How to apply it

Prioritize must-have workflow, later enhancements, and explicit exclusions. Compare per-seat, tiered, flat, usage-based, and hybrid pricing. Model hosting, support, provider, and payment costs. Define trial, quotas, cancellation, refunds, and retention.

Worked example

A first project SaaS might ship signup, organization creation, invitations, tenant-safe project CRUD, and monitoring while deferring advanced analytics.

Common mistakes to avoid

Building everything at once or promising unlimited usage without cost modeling.

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.