Who this is for
Solo developers and small teams making hard scope-cut calls who want the reasoning preserved so they stop re-deciding.
The moment this saves you
I am cutting the crafting system, it is six weeks of work and the playtesters barely touched it, but I know that at 2am I will start second-guessing the call unless the reasoning is written down somewhere I trust.
See it work
Messy spoken thought in. A clean, structured artifact out.
Cutting the crafting system, it's six weeks of work and the playtest people barely touched it, the game is about combat not survival, keeping the idea in the maybe-DLC pile, also cutting the second town, one town is enough for launch.
Scope cut log
Cut: crafting system
- Why: ~6 weeks of work; playtesters barely engaged; the game is about combat, not survival
- Parking lot: keep as a maybe-DLC idea
Cut: second town
- Why: one town is enough for launch
Principle this protects
- The game is about combat, not survival; scope serves that focus.
The workflow
Record a voice note
Hit the hotkey and talk, no formatting, no typing.
Tag it with this context
Contextli shapes your words into the structured output above.
Find it later
Everything's searchable and organised by context.
Pull it into Claude or ChatGPT
Bring your contexts straight into your AI tools with the Contextli MCP.
Your raw recording and transcription stay on your device, so you can always go back to the original.
The prompt behind this context
I'm going to talk through something I'm cutting from my project's scope. Turn it into a scope-cut log. For each thing I cut, output a bold Cut line, then bullets for Why (the cost-versus-value reasoning) and Parking lot (whether it stays as a later idea). If I name a guiding principle, end with a Principle this protects line. Use only what I actually said, never invent a reason or a feature I did not mention. If I cut more than one thing, output one block per cut. Output only the log, no preamble.
Make it your own. This is a starting point. Once it's in Contextli, tweak the instructions so the output comes out exactly how you like it.
Use this context
One click copies it and shows you exactly how to drop it into Contextli.
Next, open Contextli, go to the Contexts page, click Import, choose From JSON, paste, then Import Context. It is ready to use.
Make it your own. This is a starting point. Once it's in Contextli, tweak the instructions so the output comes out exactly how you like it.
Your raw recording and transcription stay on your device, so you can always go back to the original.
Related contexts
Decision Rationale Note
You make a real call, hiring, vendor, strategy, and the reasoning lives only in your head until someone questions it months later. Talk through what you chose and why, what you weighed, what you gave up. You keep the rationale, ready to defend or revisit.
Code Decision Log
Right after you make the call, while the tradeoffs are still fresh, talk through why you went this way and what you rejected. Three months from now when someone asks 'why a queue here?', the answer is already written down.
Roadmap Priority Note
You've got ten things competing for the next sprint and a gut feeling about priority you can't justify. Talk through the options and reasoning. You get a prioritized list with the rationale, so you can defend the roadmap when someone challenges it.
Questions people ask
Questions game developers ask about Scope Cut Log
How do I capture a to-do list by voice so it is actually organized?
Open Contextli, select the Scope Cut Log context, and speak your items in any order. The context groups related items, identifies priorities, and produces a task list you can paste into Slack, Notion, or email. You do not need to sort while speaking; say what comes to mind and let the context handle the structure.
What is the best way to capture tasks and ideas that come up during the day?
The habit that works is immediate capture with zero friction. The Scope Cut Log context lets you speak a to-do list in 10 to 20 seconds and produces a task list. You paste it into Slack, Notion, or email at the next natural pause. Because capturing is fast, you actually do it instead of telling yourself you will remember.
Can I build a to-do list by voice while doing other things?
Yes. With the Scope Cut Log context in Contextli, you can speak a to-do list while cooking, commuting, or doing anything else hands-free. The context formats your spoken list into a task list that is ready when you need it.
How do I avoid losing the things I mean to get to?
Capture them the second they surface. The Scope Cut Log context turns a quick spoken note into a task list in seconds, so nothing lives only in your head. You review and act on it later from Slack, Notion, or email, instead of trusting yourself to remember.
How do I add this context to Contextli?
Copy the context on this page, then open Contextli and go to the Contexts page. Click Import, choose From JSON, paste it into the Import from Clipboard window, and click Import Context. It is ready to use in under 30 seconds. If you do not have Contextli yet, you can download it for free first.
Is my voice recording private? Does Contextli send it anywhere?
Your voice recording and the transcription are stored on your device only. Contextli processes your audio locally and does not send your recordings or transcription text to any server. The structured output it produces is text you control, and you decide where it goes.
Can I change what the output looks like?
Yes. Every context in Contextli is a starting point you can edit. Open the context in the app, change the instructions to adjust the structure, tone, or fields, and save. The next time you use it, the output reflects your changes. You are not locked into the default format.
Do I need to install an app to use this context?
Yes. Contextli is a free app. Download it, then copy this context and paste it into the Import from Clipboard window on the Contexts page. The whole process takes about 30 seconds.