// Field notes
Notes from the studio.
How we design and ship — the five-line method, the tools behind Studio Pro & Studio Play, and what we're building next.
GUIDE
The app development process, step by step
Seven steps from idea to shipped — what happens in each, what AI changed, and the red flags that predict a blown budget.
GUIDE
How long does it take to build an app in 2026?
Realistic timelines phase by phase — MVPs in 4–8 weeks, what AI compresses, and the calendar killers that actually cause delays.
GUIDE
How much does it cost to build an app in 2026?
Honest price ranges from no-code to complex SaaS, where the money actually goes, and how AI-native teams collapsed the old agency quote.
FIELD NOTE
Why every project starts with five lines
The five-line brief — idea, user, screens, brand, ship date — and why constraint is how we ship fast without shipping junk.