PROJECT-GOALS.md Examples

Explore practical PROJECT-GOALS.md examples for common software projects. Copy an example, adapt it to your project, or use the generator to create your own.

Need a custom version?

Describe your project and generate a PROJECT-GOALS.md file based on your own objectives, requirements and scope.

Generate PROJECT-GOALS.md

Choose an example

SaaS Web App REST API Python AI Agent

SaaS PROJECT-GOALS.md example

This example defines the goals of an expense management SaaS product.

# PROJECT-GOALS.md

## Project

ExpenseFlow

## Overview

Build a SaaS application that helps small businesses
manage employee expense submissions and reporting.

## Primary Goals

- Make expense submission simple
- Reduce manual expense processing
- Provide clear expense reporting
- Keep the product easy to use

## Key Requirements

- Responsive web application
- Secure user authentication
- Expense categorisation
- CSV report export
- Multi-user accounts

## Non-Goals

- Payroll management
- Full accounting functionality
- Native mobile applications
- Enterprise ERP functionality

## Success Principle

Deliver a simple expense management experience without
adding unnecessary accounting complexity.

Web App PROJECT-GOALS.md example

This example focuses on a modern browser-based task management application.

# PROJECT-GOALS.md

## Project

FocusBoard

## Overview

Build a lightweight web application that helps users
organise personal tasks and priorities.

## Primary Goals

- Make task creation fast
- Provide a clear overview of priorities
- Keep navigation simple
- Deliver a responsive experience

## Key Requirements

- Responsive user interface
- Modern browser support
- User authentication
- Task creation and editing
- Persistent data storage

## Non-Goals

- Native mobile applications
- Complex project management features
- Enterprise resource planning
- Video or messaging functionality

## Success Principle

Prefer simplicity and usability over feature quantity.

REST API PROJECT-GOALS.md example

This example defines the boundaries of a simple customer data API.

# PROJECT-GOALS.md

## Project

Customer API

## Overview

Build a REST API that provides authorised applications
with access to customer profile data.

## Primary Goals

- Provide predictable API behaviour
- Make integration straightforward
- Return clear error responses
- Keep the API easy to maintain

## Key Requirements

- RESTful endpoints
- JSON responses
- Authentication
- Input validation
- Automated tests
- API documentation

## Non-Goals

- User interface
- Analytics dashboard
- Billing functionality
- Unrelated business workflows

## Success Principle

Keep the API predictable, well documented and focused
on customer profile operations.

Python Automation PROJECT-GOALS.md example

This example covers a Python automation script for processing reports.

# PROJECT-GOALS.md

## Project

Report Processor

## Overview

Build a Python application that processes recurring
CSV reports and generates consolidated output files.

## Primary Goals

- Automate repetitive report processing
- Reduce manual data preparation
- Produce predictable output
- Make failures easy to diagnose

## Key Requirements

- Python 3
- CSV input support
- Data validation
- Structured logging
- Clear error messages
- Automated tests for core logic

## Non-Goals

- Graphical user interface
- Real-time data processing
- Cloud infrastructure
- Manual spreadsheet editing

## Success Principle

Automate the workflow with the simplest reliable
implementation possible.

AI Agent PROJECT-GOALS.md example

This example defines the goals and scope of an AI-assisted coding agent.

# PROJECT-GOALS.md

## Project

Code Assistant

## Overview

Build an AI-assisted development tool that helps
developers understand and modify an existing codebase.

## Primary Goals

- Help developers understand unfamiliar code
- Suggest focused implementation changes
- Preserve existing project conventions
- Make proposed changes easy to review

## Key Requirements

- Repository context awareness
- Clear explanation of proposed changes
- Compatibility with existing project structure
- Support for automated tests
- Explicit handling of uncertainty

## Non-Goals

- Replacing human code review
- Making uncontrolled production changes
- Rewriting entire applications unnecessarily
- Ignoring repository conventions

## Success Principle

Help developers make focused, understandable and
reviewable changes while respecting project context.

Create your own version

Examples are useful starting points, but your PROJECT-GOALS.md should reflect the actual objectives, requirements and boundaries of your project.

Open the generator View blank template