ProtoNote

Product Introduction

1. Definition: ProtoNote is a web-based, frictionless design review and feedback collection platform. Technically, it is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) application that functions as a visual feedback tool and collaborative prototyping hub, specifically optimized for workflows involving AI-generated artifacts.
2. Core Value Proposition: It exists to streamline the feedback loop for digital creations—from AI-built prototypes and HTML files to images and PDFs—by allowing creators to instantly share a hosted version and collect contextual, pinned notes directly on the asset without requiring reviewers to create accounts. Its primary value is eliminating the friction of traditional feedback methods (email threads, screenshot markups, disjointed chat comments) by centralizing visual feedback on the exact version of the work.

Main Features

1. Multi-Format Prototype Hosting: ProtoNote accepts uploads of HTML files, Markdown, images (PNG, JPG), and PDFs. Technically, it hosts these files, rendering HTML prototypes as live, interactive web pages and displaying other formats in a dedicated viewer. Multiple files can be uploaded to create a multi-page project. This feature turns static files into shareable, web-hosted presentations.
2. Contextual Pinned Feedback System: The core functionality allows reviewers to leave notes anchored to a specific pixel coordinate on the prototype or document. How it works: A reviewer clicks the "+" icon or uses a keyboard shortcut on the shared link, which creates a pin and a comment thread at that exact location. These notes appear in real-time for all viewers and are permanently version-locked, meaning they remain associated with the specific iteration (e.g., "v1") on which they were created.
3. Claude AI (MCP) Connector Integration: This is a key technical integration. ProtoNote operates as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Anthropic's Claude AI. Users can instruct Claude directly within the chat interface to "make this a ProtoNote," prompting Claude to upload the current artifact (e.g., generated HTML code) and return a shareable ProtoNote link. Conversely, users can ask Claude to "pull my open ProtoNotes" to fetch all feedback and then apply the suggested changes, creating a closed-loop AI-assisted iteration cycle.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: It solves the fragmented and context-lost feedback process common in remote and AI-assisted work. Traditional methods like emailing attachments, using generic screenshot tools, or pasting code snippets in chat lose the visual context, create version confusion, and bury actionable feedback.
2. Target Audience: Primary personas include AI Engineers and Prompt Engineers who build functional prototypes with Claude/GPT, Solo Founders and Indie Hackers rapidly iterating on MVPs, UX/UI Designers sharing mockups and interactive prototypes, and Product Managers coordinating feedback from non-technical stakeholders on new features or documents.
3. Use Cases: Essential for reviewing a Claude-generated HTML dashboard prototype with a distributed team; gathering precise feedback on a Figma export or PDF wireframe from a client; collaboratively annotating a technical diagram or architecture PDF; and managing iterative feedback on marketing landing page variants created with AI tools.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unlike project management tools with generic commenting or dedicated design tools like Figma (which require reviewer familiarity or accounts), ProtoNote is format-agnostic and requires zero onboarding for reviewers. Compared to standalone feedback widgets, its deep AI integration and focus on hosting the actual artifact (not just a screenshot) make it uniquely suited for the AI-native workflow.
2. Key Innovation: The bidirectional Claude MCP Connector is its defining innovation. It seamlessly bridges the gap between AI chat (where creation happens) and actionable, visual feedback (where human collaboration happens). The product doesn't just collect feedback; it directly feeds structured feedback and context back into the AI chat to enable the next iteration, automating the "feedback-to-revision" pipeline.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is ProtoNote free to use for collecting feedback? Yes, ProtoNote offers a permanent free tier that includes 3 active prototypes with unlimited reviewers and notes. Reviewing a shared ProtoNote link is always completely free and requires no account—reviewers just enter a name.
2. What file types can I upload to ProtoNote for feedback? ProtoNote supports HTML files (rendered as live web pages), Markdown, images (like PNG, JPG screenshots), and PDFs. You can upload multiple files to create a multi-page project for review.
3. How does the ProtoNote integration with Claude AI work? ProtoNote functions as a Claude Connector via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Inside Claude's chat, you can use commands like "make this a ProtoNote" to upload code or an artifact, or "pull my open ProtoNotes" to fetch feedback. This allows you to create shareable prototypes and apply feedback directly within your AI workflow.
4. Do reviewers need to sign up for an account to give feedback? No, a major advantage of ProtoNote is that it requires no account for reviewers. Anyone with the shareable link can simply type their name and start leaving pinned notes on your prototype, removing a significant barrier to collecting feedback.
5. What happens to feedback notes when I upload a new version of my prototype? Notes are version-locked. When you upload a new version (e.g., v2), all notes from previous versions remain pinned to their exact location on the old version. This prevents feedback confusion and maintains a clear history of changes based on specific iterations.