The Problem (Pain Level: 7/10)
“I didn’t know how many tokens my prompt was, and my API call failed” - A daily frustration for LLM developers.
Current pain points:
- Token blindness: Can’t see real-time token count while writing prompts
- Unpredictable costs: Hard to estimate costs until API call is made
- Model confusion: GPT-4, Claude, Gemini all have different tokenizers
- No version control: Difficult to track prompt change history
- Team collaboration friction: Hard to share prompts and get feedback
Target Market
Primary Target: LLM app developers, AI engineers, prompt engineers
Market Size:
- Prompt engineering market: CAGR 32.8% through 2030
- LLM app developers surging, adopted from startups to enterprises
- Hidden costs account for 20-40% of LLM operational expenses
Pain Frequency: Recurring problem for developers writing prompts daily
What is CTxStudio?
An integrated development environment with real-time token counting and visual prompt composition.
Core Concept:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CTxStudio [≡] │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ┌───────────────────────┬───────────────────────┐ │
│ │ System Prompt │ Tokens: 847 / 8,192 │ │
│ │ ───────────────── │ Cost: ~$0.025 │ │
│ │ You are a helpful │ Model: Claude 3.5 │ │
│ │ assistant that... │ ───────────────── │ │
│ │ │ [GPT-4] [Gemini] │ │
│ └───────────────────────┴───────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ + Add Variable │ + Add Example │ Test │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Version: v1.3.2 │ Last edit: 2 min ago │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Differentiation:
- Real-Time Multi-Model Tokens: Simultaneous counting for GPT-4, Claude, Gemini
- Cost Estimator: Real-time display of estimated API costs
- Visual Block Editing: Drag-and-drop prompt composition
- Variable System: Dynamic prompt template management
- Version History: Track prompt changes like Git
Competitive Analysis
| Competitor | Features | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| ChainForge | Open-source, visual | Complex setup, local install required |
| Promptfoo | CLI-based, testing focus | No GUI, developers only |
| Langfuse | Observability focused | Monitoring tool, not an editor |
| PromptLayer | Version control, cost tracking | Weak visual editor |
Opportunity: Missing combination of “real-time feedback + visual editing + multi-model support”
Competition Intensity: HIGH - Many open-source alternatives exist
MVP Development
Timeline: 4-6 weeks
Tech Stack:
- Frontend: React + Monaco Editor
- Tokenizer: tiktoken (OpenAI), @anthropic-ai/tokenizer
- Backend: Next.js API Routes
- Storage: Supabase (PostgreSQL + Auth)
- Deployment: Vercel
MVP Features:
- Prompt editor (Monaco-based)
- Real-time token counting (GPT-4, Claude)
- Cost estimator
- Prompt saving and version control
- Basic sharing links
Future Features:
- A/B testing framework
- Team workspaces
- API integration (production prompt management)
- Prompt performance analytics
Revenue Model
Model: Freemium
Pricing Structure:
- Free: 10 prompts, basic token counting, community support
- Pro ($19/mo): Unlimited prompts, multi-model support, version history
- Team ($49/mo/seat): Team workspace, role-based access, API access
Revenue Projections:
- 6 months: $2K-5K MRR (with Product Hunt launch)
- 12 months: $10K-20K MRR (with team plan conversions)
Risk Analysis
| Risk | Level | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | LOW | Tokenizer libraries are stable |
| Market | HIGH | Many free alternatives, differentiation required |
| Execution | LOW | Relatively simple MVP scope |
Key Risks: ChainForge, Langfuse improvements, LLM providers strengthening native tools
Who Should Build This
- Full-stack developers with frontend development skills
- Those who experienced token management difficulties while building LLM apps
- Interested in developer tools market and DevEx
- Able to design monetizable differentiation against open-source
- Prefer fast MVP launch and feedback loops
If you’re building this idea or have thoughts to share, drop a comment below!