📋 Product Requirement Document
NewsFlash - PRD
Building a quick news app using AI builder platforms
BACKGROUND
Why this document exists
The rise of generative AI tools has lowered the barrier to building apps. But as the landscape grows more crowded, it becomes harder to know which tools actually deliver. This PRD was created to answer that question directly — by building the same product across multiple AI builders using the same prompt and the same evaluation criteria.
PROBLEM
What we're solving for
Designers and early-stage builders are increasingly turning to AI builders to accelerate product development — but without a direct comparison, choosing the right tool becomes guesswork. This project removes that guesswork by testing four leading builders against the same brief, the same evaluation criteria, and the same iteration process.
OBJECTIVE / GOALS
What we set out to learn
Evaluate how each AI app builder interprets and executes the same initial prompt without modification
Observe how each builder responds to iteration prompts — specifically how well it handles small details, corrections, and feature additions
Document the features each builder offers out of the box versus what requires prompting or is unavailable entirely
Compare each builder's output against the discovery build in Replit as a neutral baseline — not better or worse, just consistent
Identify what each builder does well and where it falls short so designers can make an informed choice
Give designers and early-stage builders an honest, experience-based reference
KEY FEATURE / SCOPE
What we're building
The five core features that will be required for each AI builders's end point.
Description: Users select preferred news categories during onboarding to personalize their feed
Goal: Establish user preference from the start so content feels relevant immediately
Use case: First time user opens the app, selects Business and Tech, feed shows only those categories
Additional details: Categories should be visually distinct — icons, color coding, or both
Description: Each article displays as a card with a headline and 2–3 sentence summary
Goal: Let users consume key information without committing to a full article
Use case: User scrolling feed reads the summary and decides whether to open the full article
Additional details: Card should be tappable — opens summary modal first, full article second
Description: Tapping an article opens an in-app overlay with key points before redirecting
Goal: Reduce friction between scanning and reading — give users a middle step
Use case: User taps article, modal appears with 3 bullet points, user decides to read more or dismiss
Additional details: Modal should scroll independently, exit button clearly separated from read more button
Description: Upvote, save, share, and comment options on each article
Goal: Give users ways to interact beyond passive reading
Use case: User finds an article worth sharing, taps share without opening the full article
Additional details: Saved articles should be accessible from the profile page
Description: Bottom navigation with Home, Trending, and Profile tabs
Goal: Give users clear wayfinding and a reason to return to the app
Use case: User taps Trending to see what articles are gaining traction from other readers
Additional details: Trending ranked by read count, votes, and active discussion
APP REQUIREMENTS
Build Targets
These are the features each builder will be prompted to produce. All builders receive the same starting prompt. The core list reflects the evolved target after iteration — the starting prompt, was MVP only.
Core features that are required and iterated across all builders
Necessary Features (prompted to add)
Interest Selection - Onboarding screen to pick topics and personalize feed
Scrollable Feed - Headline + couple of sentence snippet; tapping opens short description summarizing article - no redirection; comment section
Article Summary Modal - Key points shown before committing to full article
Read Indicator - Visual marker on articles already viewed
Bottom Navigation - Home / Trending / Profile tabs
Upvote / Save / Share - Pre-article actions; saved articles accessible in profile
Commenting - View and post discussion within modal - no full article scroll required
Trending Page - Surfaces articles gaining traction by read count, votes, and active discussion
Nice to Have
(what builder tools have to offer additionally)
Web to mobile view
Working links
Expo Go preview
Live shareable mockup
Publish to web / app
Evaluation Criteria
🧠 Out of Scope