What We Won't Build
The features we've deliberately excluded, and why.
Every product is defined by what it includes. But products are equally defined by what they exclude.
Here's what we've deliberately chosen not to build — and why.
No Notifications
We don't send notifications. Not push notifications, not email reminders, not badges demanding attention.
Notifications create anxiety. They interrupt focus. They train you to check compulsively rather than engage intentionally.
If Cardana is valuable, you'll return when you need it. If it's not valuable, no amount of pinging will make it so.
No Streaks
We don't track streaks. No "30-day learning streak" badges. No guilt when you miss a day.
Streaks gamify behaviour in ways that don't align with real learning. They reward showing up over learning deeply. They create stress that undermines the learning process.
Good learning happens when you're ready for it, not when a streak counter demands it.
No Leaderboards
We don't rank users against each other. No leaderboards showing who's "winning" at learning.
Learning isn't a competition. Comparing yourself to others often undermines motivation rather than enhancing it. It creates extrinsic pressure that crowds out intrinsic curiosity.
Your progress matters relative to your goals, not relative to strangers.
No Artificial Urgency
We don't create fake urgency. No countdown timers. No "limited time offers." No scarcity that doesn't exist.
Artificial urgency manipulates decisions. It works in the short term but erodes trust in the long term. We want you to use Cardana because it's valuable, not because you feel pressured.
No Engagement Metrics as Goals
We don't optimise for engagement as an end in itself. We don't try to maximise time-in-app or sessions-per-day.
Engagement metrics can conflict with user value. An app that wastes your time might score highly on engagement. An app that efficiently helps you learn might score lower.
We optimise for learning outcomes, not attention capture.
No Social Features for Their Own Sake
We don't add social features just to increase "stickiness." No feeds. No likes. No social comparison mechanics.
Social features can be valuable, but they often become distractions. They shift focus from learning to performing. They add complexity without clear benefit.
If we add social features, they'll serve learning specifically — not engagement generally.
No Dark Patterns
We don't use dark patterns. No confusing unsubscribe flows. No hidden fees. No manipulative defaults.
Dark patterns work by exploiting cognitive biases. They're effective in the short term but destructive to trust. We refuse to use them.
Why Exclusion Matters
Every feature has costs — cognitive load, maintenance burden, potential for confusion. Features that don't clearly earn their place should be excluded.
The features we've excluded aren't bad in all contexts. Notifications, streaks, and social features work well in some products for some purposes.
But they don't fit what we're building. Cardana is about deep learning, not attention capture. About mastery, not metrics. About value, not engagement.
The Positive Consequence
Saying no creates space for saying yes.
Without notifications competing for attention, the interface can be calmer. Without streaks creating pressure, learning can happen at the right pace. Without leaderboards, progress can be personal.
Exclusion enables focus.
Conclusion
What we won't build defines what we will build.
We won't manipulate, pressure, or distract. We will support, clarify, and respect.
That's the product we're making.