# Backlog - Future Features & Ideas

> **Purpose:** Long-term feature ideas, "what if" concepts, and parking lot items.
> **Note:** These are brainstorm items, not committed roadmap. Evaluate based on user demand and business impact.
> **Last Updated:** February 2, 2026

---

## Table of Contents

1. [Dynamic Script Generation](#dynamic-script-generation)
2. [Beyond Service Desk - Department Expansion](#beyond-service-desk---department-expansion)
3. [Tree Collaboration & Sharing](#tree-collaboration--sharing)
4. [Integration Ideas](#integration-ideas)
5. [Mobile & Accessibility](#mobile--accessibility)
6. [Gamification & Training](#gamification--training)
7. [Advanced Analytics](#advanced-analytics)
8. [AI-Powered Features](#ai-powered-features)
9. [Parking Lot - Quick Ideas](#parking-lot---quick-ideas)
10. [Long-Term Vision](#long-term-vision)
11. [Idea Evaluation Criteria](#idea-evaluation-criteria)

---

## Dynamic Script Generation

### Concept: Trees That Generate PowerShell Scripts

Instead of just guiding a tech through troubleshooting steps, trees could COLLECT information and OUTPUT executable scripts.

**Example Scenario: New User Onboarding**

A ticket comes in: "New hire starting Monday - John Smith, Marketing department"

Traditional approach:
1. Tech manually creates AD user
2. Tech looks up which groups Marketing needs
3. Tech adds user to groups one by one
4. Tech moves user to correct OU
5. Tech documents what they did

**Script Generation approach:**

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ NEW USER ONBOARDING TREE                                    │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Step 1: Enter user details                                  │
│   First Name: [John_____________]                           │
│   Last Name:  [Smith____________]                           │
│   Department: [Marketing________] ▼                         │
│                                                             │
│ Step 2: Select required groups (auto-suggested by dept)     │
│   ☑ Domain Users                                           │
│   ☑ Marketing-All                                          │
│   ☑ SharePoint-Marketing                                   │
│                                                             │
│ Step 3: Confirm organizational unit                         │
│   OU Path: OU=Marketing,OU=Users,DC=contoso,DC=com         │
│                                                             │
│ [Generate Script]                                           │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

**Generated Output:**

```powershell
# New User Creation Script
# Generated by Patherly - 2026-01-28 14:32
# Ticket: #12345

$Password = Read-Host -AsSecureString "Enter initial password"
New-ADUser -Name "John Smith" `
    -GivenName "John" `
    -Surname "Smith" `
    -SamAccountName "jsmith" `
    -UserPrincipalName "jsmith@contoso.com" `
    -Path "OU=Marketing,OU=Users,DC=contoso,DC=com" `
    -AccountPassword $Password `
    -Enabled $true

# Add to groups
@("Domain Users", "Marketing-All", "SharePoint-Marketing") | ForEach-Object {
    Add-ADGroupMember -Identity $_ -Members "jsmith"
}
```

**Value Proposition:**
- Eliminates manual typing errors
- Ensures consistency across techs
- Auto-documents what was done
- Reduces training time for new hires
- Script can be reviewed before execution (safety)

### Other Script Generation Use Cases

| Use Case | Inputs Collected | Output |
|----------|------------------|--------|
| User Offboarding | Username, actions to take | Disable/remove script |
| Bulk Group Changes | User list, groups | Group membership script |
| Computer Setup | Name, department, user | Deployment script |
| Network Diagnostics | Issue description | Diagnostic collection script |
| M365 License Assignment | User, license type | PowerShell for M365 |

### Technical Considerations

**New Node Type: "Input Node"**
```typescript
interface InputNode {
  type: 'input';
  fields: InputField[];
  validation?: ValidationRules;
  next_node_id: string;
}

interface InputField {
  name: string;
  label: string;
  type: 'text' | 'select' | 'multiselect' | 'checkbox' | 'number';
  options?: string[];
  variable_name: string;  // used in script template
}
```

**New Node Type: "Script Output Node"**
```typescript
interface ScriptOutputNode {
  type: 'script_output';
  script_template: string;  // PowerShell with {{variable}} placeholders
  language: 'powershell' | 'bash' | 'python';
  documentation_template?: string;
}
```

### Safety & Compliance Features

- **Script Review Mode:** Scripts NEVER auto-execute, always presented for review
- **Audit Trail:** Log which scripts were generated and by whom
- **Template Approval:** Senior engineers review templates before publishing
- **Environment Variables:** Store org-specific values (domain name, OU paths)

### Implementation Phases

1. **Phase 1:** Basic script output with variable substitution
2. **Phase 2:** Input collection nodes with validation
3. **Phase 3:** Smart defaults (department → group suggestions)
4. **Phase 4:** Direct execution capability (Enterprise, with approval workflows)

---

## Beyond Service Desk - Department Expansion

### Concept: Department-Specific Path Libraries

The "guided decision tree" concept applies to ANY process that benefits from consistency and documentation.

**Target Departments:**

| Department | Use Cases |
|------------|-----------|
| Service Desk | Troubleshooting (current focus) |
| Sales | Quoting, assessments, discovery |
| vCIO/Consulting | Policy creation, strategic planning |
| Onboarding | Client setup, documentation gathering |
| Finance | Contract review, billing disputes |
| HR | Employee onboarding, policy acknowledgment |

### vCIO / Consulting: Policy Builder

Guide clients through policy creation with smart templates and boilerplate language.

**Example: Acceptable Use Policy Builder**

User selects sections to include:
- ☑ Computer Use Policy
- ☑ Mobile Device Policy
- ☑ BYOD Policy
- ☑ AI Usage Policy
- ☑ Remote Work Policy

**Generated Output:** Complete, formatted policy document (Word/PDF) with:
- Professional boilerplate language
- Industry-specific compliance notes (HIPAA for healthcare, etc.)
- Signature/acknowledgment section

**Policy Types to Support:**
- Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
- Information Security Policy
- Password Policy
- Data Classification Policy
- Incident Response Policy
- BYOD Policy
- AI/Generative AI Policy

**Value Proposition:**
- vCIOs generate client policies in minutes, not hours
- Consistent, professional output
- Industry-specific compliance built-in
- Upsell opportunity: "Policy Review" as a service

### Sales: Quote Builder & Assessment Paths

Guide sales reps through discovery with consistent methodology that surfaces upsell opportunities.

**Assessment Types:**

1. **Security Assessment** - Endpoint protection, MFA, training gaps
2. **Backup Assessment** - Frequency, retention, testing procedures
3. **Hardware Assessment** - Workstation age, server infrastructure, warranties
4. **Compliance Assessment** - HIPAA, PCI, documentation status
5. **Cloud Readiness Assessment** - Migration complexity, bandwidth needs

**Generated Outputs:**
- Gap Analysis Report (client-facing)
- Quote Worksheet (internal)
- Proposal Content (client-facing)

### Client Onboarding Paths

Structured onboarding ensuring nothing is missed:
- Contact gathering (technical, billing, decision makers)
- Credentials collection (secure vault integration)
- Documentation intake (passwords, network diagrams)
- Standards configuration (naming conventions, security policies)
- Tool deployment checklist
- Handoff to service desk

**Output:** Populated documentation templates, IT Glue/Hudu import-ready data

---

## Tree Collaboration & Sharing

### Public Tree Gallery

- Users publish trees to community gallery
- Rating and review system
- "Verified" badge for quality trees
- Fork and customize

### Tree Marketplace

- Premium trees from experts
- Revenue share model (70/30)
- Subscription access to premium library

### Tree Inheritance

- Company-wide "official" trees
- Teams create local variations
- Changes can be proposed upstream
- Version control and diff viewing

---

## Integration Ideas

### PSA Deep Integration

- Create ticket from tree resolution
- Auto-populate ticket fields from session
- Link session to existing ticket
- Pull ticket context into tree suggestions

**Target PSAs:** ConnectWise, Kaseya, Autotask, ServiceNow

### RMM Integration

- Pull device info into tree context
- "This computer has X installed, skip to step Y"
- Trigger RMM scripts from tree actions
- Asset-aware troubleshooting

**Target RMMs:** Datto, ConnectWise Automate, NinjaRMM

### Documentation Integration

- Link tree nodes to IT Glue/Hudu articles
- Auto-create documentation from resolved sessions
- Sync tree content with knowledge base

### Communication Integration

- Slack/Teams notifications for escalations
- Share session summary to channel
- Request help from team within tree

---

## Mobile & Accessibility

### Mobile App (PWA Enhancement)

- Offline tree access
- Voice input for hands-free use
- Camera integration for error screenshots
- Push notifications for shared sessions

### Voice-Guided Mode

- Read steps aloud
- Voice commands to navigate
- Useful for field techs with hands busy
- Accessibility for vision-impaired users

---

## Gamification & Training

### Tech Leaderboards

- Trees completed
- Resolution time improvements
- Contribution to tree improvements
- Points and badges

### Training Mode

- Practice trees without affecting stats
- Simulated scenarios
- Quiz mode with wrong-path feedback
- Certification preparation

### Onboarding Tracks

- Structured learning paths for new hires
- Progress tracking
- Manager visibility into training progress

---

## Advanced Analytics

### Predictive Issue Alerts

- "VPN issues spike on Mondays after updates"
- Proactive notifications to prepare
- Trend forecasting

### Cost Attribution

- Estimate time spent per issue type
- Calculate cost of common problems
- ROI justification for fixes

### Comparative Analytics

- Benchmark against anonymized industry data
- "Your password reset time is 20% faster than average"
- Identify improvement opportunities

---

## AI-Powered Features

### Conversational Interface

- Chat with AI about an issue
- AI suggests relevant trees
- Natural language navigation

### Auto-Tree Generation

- Record a senior tech explaining a fix
- AI generates tree structure from transcript
- Review and publish

### Predictive Resolution

- AI predicts likely resolution before tree starts
- "Based on the description, this is probably X (85% confidence)"
- Option to jump to likely solution

### Import from Text/Documentation

- Paste existing runbook or documentation
- AI parses and creates tree structure
- Review and refine

---

## Parking Lot - Quick Ideas

*Quick-capture ideas to evaluate later:*

- [ ] Browser extension to capture screenshots into sessions
- [ ] QR codes on physical equipment linking to relevant trees
- [ ] Customer-facing trees (end-user self-service)
- [ ] Tree templates for common scenarios
- [ ] Scheduled tree reminders (monthly server maintenance checklist)
- [ ] Integration with monitoring tools (trigger tree from alert)
- [ ] Multi-language tree support
- [ ] Conditional logic based on time of day / day of week
- [ ] SLA timers visible during session
- [ ] Escalation workflows with approval chains
- [ ] Custom note formatting templates for different ticket systems
- [ ] "Options on the go" - select pre-made steps mid-tree and jump to relevant point
- [ ] Import plan function - write in text format and import as tree

---

## Long-Term Vision (Year 2+)

### Product Evolution

- Self-learning system (trees improve automatically based on usage)
- Voice-guided troubleshooting (hands-free operation)
- AR/VR support (on-site equipment identification)
- AI co-pilot (real-time suggestions during troubleshooting)

### Market Expansion

- Vertical-specific tree libraries (healthcare IT, financial services, education)
- Certification program for tree authors
- Professional services (custom tree development)
- Training and consultation services

### Platform Maturity

- 99.9% uptime SLA
- Global CDN deployment
- Advanced compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001)
- Enterprise support tiers
- White-glove onboarding

---

## Idea Evaluation Criteria

When evaluating which ideas to pursue:

| Criteria | Weight | Questions |
|----------|--------|-----------|
| User demand | High | Are users asking for this? |
| Revenue impact | High | Will this drive upgrades or reduce churn? |
| Differentiation | Medium | Does this set us apart from alternatives? |
| Development effort | Medium | How long to build MVP? |
| Maintenance burden | Medium | Ongoing cost to support? |
| Strategic fit | Medium | Does this align with our vision? |

---

## How to Add Ideas

When adding new ideas to this document:

1. **Describe the concept** - What is it? Why would users want it?
2. **Provide an example** - Concrete scenario showing the feature in action
3. **Note technical considerations** - What would need to change?
4. **Estimate complexity** - Simple / Medium / Complex
5. **Identify dependencies** - What needs to exist first?

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*This is a living document. Add ideas freely, evaluate periodically, and move promising concepts to GitHub Issues when ready to implement.*
