Research-First Development

Build knowledge bases that build software — research before code, teach before execute

Methodology for AI-assisted development where investment in research, skill creation, and knowledge encoding precedes implementation. Discovered through the Dead Letter heir's masterclass on cognitive architecture utilization (February 2026).

When to Use

• Starting any new project with Alex
• Entering a new implementation phase of an existing project
• Onboarding Alex to an unfamiliar domain
• When AI output quality is inconsistent (symptom: insufficient context)
• Before any complex multi-subsystem implementation

Core Insight