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Using Confab

Confab helps a group move from an open question to a documented decision. Instead of scattering discussion across meetings, chat threads, and spreadsheets, you create one shared Confab where people can review the issue, compare options, and contribute opinions at their own pace.

This page gives you the simplest path to getting value from Confab.

When to use Confab​

Use Confab when you need to:

  • compare several possible choices
  • gather input from multiple people without scheduling everyone at once
  • make trade-offs visible instead of relying on memory or opinion alone
  • keep a record of why a decision was made

Common examples include feature prioritization, vendor selection, roadmap planning, travel planning, and cross-functional product decisions.

How Confab Works​

Most Confabs follow the same flow:

  1. Create a Confab for one decision or issue.
  2. Add Options that represent the possible choices.
  3. Invite participants and assign roles based on how each person should contribute.
  4. Collect opinions through comments, ratings, and structured feedback.
  5. Compare the results using attributes, notes, and visual views.
  6. Decide and keep the record so the reasoning is easy to revisit later.

You can keep the process lightweight for simple decisions or add more structure as the decision becomes more complex.

The Core Pieces​

You only need a few concepts to get started:

  • Workspace: the broader space that contains your Confabs
  • Confab: one shared decision space for a specific issue
  • Option: a possible choice under consideration
  • Attribute: a comparison criterion such as cost, effort, risk, or impact
  • Opinion: the feedback people contribute about an option

If you keep those five ideas in mind, the rest of the product will make sense quickly.

Your First Confab​

If you are new to the product, start with a small decision and keep the first setup simple.

Step 1: Name the decision​

Create a Confab with a clear title and short description. A good title states the actual question your group needs to answer.

Examples:

  • Which analytics vendor should we adopt this quarter?
  • Which product feature should ship next?
  • Which venue should we book for the team offsite?

Step 2: Add a short list of options​

Add the main alternatives you are considering. Keep the initial list concise. It is better to start with three to five serious options than to dump in every possible idea.

Each option can be expanded later with notes, supporting details, and structured comparisons.

Step 3: Invite the right people​

Bring in the people who have context, authority, or useful perspective. Assign roles based on what they need to do:

  • Owner manages the Confab and participants
  • Editor updates options and other content
  • Respondent contributes feedback and opinions
  • Viewer follows the decision without editing it

This keeps collaboration open without losing control over the content.

Step 4: Add structure only where it helps​

Once the options are in place, add attributes for the criteria that matter most. Typical examples are cost, effort, time to implement, customer impact, and risk.

Do not over-model the decision at the start. Add structure only when it helps the group compare options more clearly.

Step 5: Ask for opinions​

Invite people to review the options and explain their thinking. The goal is not just to count votes. The goal is to surface trade-offs, questions, assumptions, and concerns while the decision is still open.

Because Confab supports asynchronous collaboration, people can contribute when they are ready instead of waiting for a meeting.

Step 6: Compare and decide​

As opinions and attributes accumulate, use Confab's comparison views and option pages to see where the group agrees, where there is uncertainty, and what still needs clarification.

When the decision is made, the Confab remains as the shared record of what was considered and why.

A Good First-Time Approach​

For your first Confab, keep it simple:

  • one clear decision
  • a short option list
  • a small group of participants
  • a handful of meaningful attributes

That is enough to learn the workflow without creating unnecessary overhead.

Continue Reading​

Use these guides next:

  • Overview for the broader purpose and strengths of the platform
  • Concepts for the main objects and roles you will see in the app
  • Getting Started for a fuller step-by-step walkthrough

If you already have a decision in mind, the best next step is to create a Confab and keep the first one small enough to finish.