thought on product strategy: We focus on roadmaps and features, but the most defensible products are the ones that become universes.

Think of the OP-1 by Teenage Engineering, the command line, or a complex video game like Minecraft. They are less like tools with a defined purpose and more like universes with their unique laws of physics. They provide a set of primitives that allow people to create outcomes the original designers never imagined.

Building a "universe" means prioritizing three things:

  1. Extensibility: The system is designed to be built upon by you and the people who inhabit it.
  2. Emergent Behavior: The components can be combined in surprising ways, fostering discovery and innovation.
  3. Identity: People don't just use the product; they inhabit it. They become contextual programmers, musicians, or creators.
Shifting your goal from shipping a product to cultivating a universe creates the ultimate moat: people who can't imagine living elsewhere.