Exhaust the Design Space

When a novel interaction or architectural decision has no established precedent, explore several concrete alternatives before implementation. Building the wrong thing costs more than exploring three options.

The rule: When the right answer is not obvious, build 2-3 competing prototypes or sketches. Compare them side by side. Only then commit.

When it applies:

• Novel UI interactions (no prior art in the codebase)
• Architectural choices with multiple viable approaches
• Product design decisions where user experience depends on feel, not logic

When it doesn't:

• Mechanical implementation where the pattern is established
• Bug fixes or refactors with a clear target state
• Changes where constraints dictate a single viable approach