Is Decision Terrain free?

Yes. The map, the examples and the PNG, SVG and text exports are free, and you do not need an account.

Where is my map saved?

In this browser, after every change. If you are signed in, it is also saved to your HourLife account, so it opens on your other devices, and you can delete it there in Settings. Signed out, nothing is uploaded. Either way nobody else can see it. Clearing your browser data removes it, so export a PNG or copy the summary if you want to keep a record.

How is the best bet worked out?

Each option gets a fit score from 0 to 100. Upside counts three times, values fit twice and reversibility one and a half times, and effort is subtracted twice. The option with the highest score is the best bet and the highest summit on the map. It shows what your own numbers say; it does not make the decision for you.

What do the contour lines show?

Each option raises a hill as tall as its fit score. An option that is easy to undo makes a broad, gentle hill; one that is hard to undo rises as a steep peak with its lines packed close. The whole map also slopes up toward low effort and high upside, which is where the high ground is.

What is a one-way door?

Jeff Bezos's name, in his 2015 letter to Amazon shareholders, for a decision that is hard or impossible to reverse. He argued those deserve slow, careful thought, while reversible two-way doors should be made quickly. The map marks reversibility of 3 or less as a one-way door, with a ticked edge around the flag, and 7 or more as a two-way door.

How many options can I compare?

Two to eight. Add one with the button or by double-clicking the map, then drag its flag, or select it and move it with the arrow keys.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. The map sits above the options and you drag flags with a finger. A larger screen gives the map more room, which helps once you have five or more options.

Keep this tool for later

Tools
Decision Terrain

Find the high ground in a hard decision

Put each option on a map of effort and upside. Its hill grows with how well it fits, its footprint with how easy it is to undo, and the contour lines show which one stands highest.

Open the map Start from an example

Up to 8 options
PNG and SVG export
Free, no account

A · B · C on one sheetContour interval: 5 points of fit

Four things the map tells you at a glance

You score each option from 1 to 10 on four questions. The map turns the scores into ground you can read without adding anything up.

Where it sits Effort runs left to right and upside runs up. Top left is a lot for a little; bottom right is the bog.
How high it stands Each option raises a hill as tall as its fit score out of 100. The highest summit is the best bet.
How easy it is to undo A reversible option spreads into a broad hill. One you cannot take back is a narrow peak with a ticked cliff edge.
Whether it fits who you are The flag's colour is values fit: green fits, amber partly, red pulls against what you care about.

A decision in three moves

Name the options

Write the decision at the top and name two to eight options. Include the boring one, like staying where you are; it is often higher ground than it feels.
Place the flags

Drag each flag to its effort and upside, then set how reversible it is and how well it fits your values. The ground redraws as you go.
Read the ground

The panel names the best bet, the safest first step and the option that has to earn its place. Export the map or copy the summary to keep.

One-way and two-way doors

In his 2015 letter to Amazon shareholders, Jeff Bezos split decisions into two kinds. The map draws the difference, because it changes how long a decision deserves.

Two-way door: reversibility 7 or more

If it disappoints, you can walk back through. These are worth deciding quickly, because waiting costs more than a wrong turn. On the map, a broad and gentle hill.

One-way door: reversibility 3 or less

Hard or impossible to undo, so it deserves slow, careful thought. On the map, a steep peak with a ticked cliff edge. If one wins, the panel looks for a reversible step to take first.

fit = upside × 3 + values × 2 + reversibility × 1.5 − effort × 2, scaled to 0–100

Start from an example

Each one opens the map with real-looking options already placed. Rename them, move them, and make it yours.

Questions

Is Decision Terrain free?

Yes. The map, the examples and the PNG, SVG and text exports are free, and you do not need an account.
Where is my map saved?

In this browser, after every change. If you are signed in, it is also saved to your HourLife account, so it opens on your other devices, and you can delete it there in Settings. Signed out, nothing is uploaded. Either way nobody else can see it. Clearing your browser data removes it, so export a PNG or copy the summary if you want to keep a record.
How is the best bet worked out?

Each option gets a fit score from 0 to 100. Upside counts three times, values fit twice and reversibility one and a half times, and effort is subtracted twice. The option with the highest score is the best bet and the highest summit on the map. It shows what your own numbers say; it does not make the decision for you.
What do the contour lines show?

Each option raises a hill as tall as its fit score. An option that is easy to undo makes a broad, gentle hill; one that is hard to undo rises as a steep peak with its lines packed close. The whole map also slopes up toward low effort and high upside, which is where the high ground is.
What is a one-way door?

Jeff Bezos's name, in his 2015 letter to Amazon shareholders, for a decision that is hard or impossible to reverse. He argued those deserve slow, careful thought, while reversible two-way doors should be made quickly. The map marks reversibility of 3 or less as a one-way door, with a ticked edge around the flag, and 7 or more as a two-way door.
How many options can I compare?

Two to eight. Add one with the button or by double-clicking the map, then drag its flag, or select it and move it with the arrow keys.
Does it work on a phone?

Yes. The map sits above the options and you drag flags with a finger. A larger screen gives the map more room, which helps once you have five or more options.

Related tools and books

Decision Helper Fear Setting Canvas Decision Compare Matrix Decisive

See the ground before you pick a path

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Open the map

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