How PROTHEUS Works
Architecture-first analysis powered by 12-agent hybrid system: deterministic validation rules + generative agents. Full transparency into our methodology.
🔍 Transparent Methodology
Unlike Copilot or ChatGPT, PROTHEUS shows you exactly how it approaches feasibility:
- ✓ Architectural validation constraints (immutable rules)
- ✓ Budget calculations (effort × regional rates × overhead)
- ✓ Market data sources (current regional rates)
- ✓ Clear assumptions (overhead factors, coordination buffers)
Architectural Guardrails
Immutable validation constraints that catch fatal flaws before you write code. Zero hallucination in these checks.
Technology Fit
Ensures technology choices match project tier and complexity. Prevents over-engineering MVPs or under-tooling enterprise projects.
✓ Stack Appropriateness
Validates that architectural patterns align with project scope and team capabilities. Example: Microservices require justification for complexity tier.
✓ Architecture Compatibility
Detects technical impossibilities in stack combinations. Example: Validates if chosen framework supports required real-time features.
Resource Alignment
Validates that budget, timeline, and team capabilities align with project requirements.
✓ Timeline Feasibility
Accounts for team learning curves when new to technologies. Adds realistic time estimates for skill development.
✓ Budget-Cost Balance
Validates infrastructure and operational costs are sustainable within project budget. Flags excessive infrastructure spending early.
✓ Team Skills Match
Identifies critical skill gaps requiring training or additional resources. Prevents committing to tech stacks outside team expertise.
✓ Budget Capacity
Rejects projects where budget gap exceeds recoverable threshold. Prevents financially unviable commitments.
Completeness & Security
Ensures all critical components are present and security baselines are met.
✓ Feature Completeness
Validates domain-specific mandatory features are included. Example: E-commerce requires catalog, cart, orders, and payment processing.
✓ Security Baseline
Enforces minimum security requirements appropriate to project tier. External authentication and secure communication mandatory.
✓ Setup Complexity
Validates infrastructure setup time aligns with project tier and timeline. Prevents complex orchestration for rapid delivery requirements.
Why These Guardrails Matter:
These validation constraints catch fatal flaws before you write a single line of code. They're based on 25+ years of architecture experience, codified as deterministic logic. No probabilistic guessing—just hard constraints that protect your project.
Multi-Factor Viability Model
How PROTHEUS calculates the Viability Score (0-100) using weighted risk assessment.
Realistic estimate vs client's deadline. Primary risk factor in most projects.
• Regional coordination overhead
• Learning curve requirements
• Critical path dependencies
Skills match, capacity, and coordination overhead assessment.
• Team size appropriateness
• Experience with similar projects
• Availability and commitment
Domain difficulty, compliance requirements, and integration complexity.
• Regulatory compliance needs
• Third-party integrations
• Technical novelty
Feature creep probability and requirements clarity assessment.
• Stakeholder alignment
• Change history patterns
• Scope flexibility
Example Assessment:
What You Get: 9 Documents
Complete architecture package: 30-50 pages of actionable insights. Not a summary—a full feasibility study.
Viability Score (0-100)
Multi-factor risk assessment combining timeline, team capacity, complexity, and scope flexibility
Timeline Reality Check
Realistic timeline with location-adjusted coordination buffers
Budget Validation
Labor + infrastructure + compliance costs with current market rates
Risk Assessment
Prioritized risks with mitigation strategies and cost impacts
6-8 Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)
Technical decisions with context, options evaluated, and rationale
30-80 User Stories
MoSCoW prioritization with acceptance criteria and story points
Stack Recommendation (3-5 Options)
Technology choices with comparative analysis and trade-offs
Sprint Plan (2-8 Sprints)
Dependency-aware sequencing with team velocity considerations
Compliance Checklist
GDPR, HIPAA, WCAG, PCI-DSS requirements with implementation effort
Total Package:
30-50 pages of comprehensive analysis
📋 Illustrative Example (Not Real Project)
The scenario below demonstrates PROTHEUS methodology using realistic but fictional data. This is NOT a validated case study with actual client outcomes.
Validation Status: We're collecting real project data now. Once we have 20-50 completed projects with validated outcomes (Q3-Q4 2025), we'll publish actual case studies with client permission.
Example Scenario: Healthcare Appointment System
How PROTHEUS would analyze an MVP project with compliance requirements
• Audit logging implementation
• Security hardening requirements
• Compliance-grade infrastructure
• Third-party service integrations
• Contingency buffer
Option 1: Adjust Timeline + Budget
• Extend timeline to realistic delivery window
• Increase budget to cover compliance consulting
• Revised viability: Significantly improved
Option 2: Reduce Initial Scope
• Launch without full compliance (demo/internal only)
• Shorter timeline achievable
• Lower budget requirement
• Revised viability: Acceptable risk level
Why This Example Matters:
This scenario demonstrates how PROTHEUS catches critical feasibility issues before you commit. Accepting the original proposal without analysis could result in:
- • Substantial budget overrun
- • Significant timeline slippage
- • Potential compliance violations (legal risk)
- • Total potential loss: Major financial impact
Scope & Limitations
Radical transparency: What PROTHEUS does and doesn't do
❌ What PROTHEUS Does NOT Do:
Replace Architects
PROTHEUS augments architects, it doesn't replace them. Human judgment required for final decisions.
Generate Executable Code
PROTHEUS analyzes pre-code phase (architecture, planning). Use Cursor/Copilot for code generation.
Guarantee Project Success
PROTHEUS reduces risk, it doesn't eliminate it. Success depends on execution, not just planning.
Analyze Maintenance/Legacy Projects
Optimized for greenfield (new builds). Brownfield analysis coming in Q3 2025.
Work with Non-Technical Projects
Requires software engineering scope (web, mobile, API, infrastructure projects only).
Handle Very Small Budgets
Minimum analysis threshold applies. Below that, too many unknowns for reliable prediction.
✅ What PROTHEUS DOES Do:
Pre-Sales Validation
Perfect for agencies/freelancers: validate scope + budget BEFORE signing contract.
Sprint 0 Planning
Generate ADRs, user stories, sprint plan for initial sprints.
Budget Negotiation
Data-driven timeline/cost estimates with regional market rates.
Greenfield Projects
New builds with technology stack decisions (web, mobile, API, SaaS, etc.).
Technical Due Diligence
M&A, vendor selection, feasibility studies for CTOs/investors.
📊 Validation Status (Honest Disclosure):
Current Status: Internal test suite pass rate 85-95% (comprehensive automated testing).
What's NOT Validated: Timeline predictions against real project outcomes. We don't have "500 projects analyzed" or "84.6% accuracy" — that would require retrospective validation with actual client data.
Validation Roadmap:
- • Q1 2025 (Now): Launch with honest messaging, collect early adopters
- • Q2 2025: Follow up with early adopters, validate predictions vs reality
- • Q3 2025: Comparative analysis (PROTHEUS vs architects, multiple projects)
- • Q4 2025: Publish validated accuracy report with completed projects
We're being honest: PROTHEUS is a decision support tool with strong architectural logic, but NOT yet validated with extensive real projects. We'll earn that claim in 2025.
Ready to Analyze Your Project?
3 free analyses per month. No credit card required. See exactly how PROTHEUS thinks.
Start Your Free Analysis →Full transparency • Multi-agent pipeline • Architectural validation • Strategic LLM use