Ask HN: Business logic that runs everywhere – would you use it?

I’m a solo developer building something called Variable Engine (VE) — a logic infrastructure layer that separates business rules from web code, so that users (not just devs) and the system can define and enforce real-time logic inside tools they don’t own.

I have two working MVPs:

1. Used on any website: VE enforces budget logic on Amazon.com right now (could be any web-based site). If you’re over your budget, the Buy button is blocked. If you're below your budget — or raise the budget — the purchase is allowed. All logic updates happen in real time.

2. Installed on your own site: VE is dropped in via a single <div> and <script>, and mapped in under a minute. If your site were selling computers, you could define: - computers = teams * 4, teams = 10 - 1 motherboard per computer - 4 sticks of RAM per computer - 1 power cord per computer Update the number of teams or computers, and the parts logic updates cleanly and instantly — without touching your backend. These are lightbulbs built with VE — but VE is the electricity and the grid behind them — logic overlays that run independently of app code or APIs, using a simple, AI-usable syntax.

VE is integrated with GPT-3.5-turbo today, but it doesn’t break if AI goes down.

Your logic is enforced on both third-party sites and websites that VE is installed on.

What inspired this post? Around minute 24 of a conversation between @sivers and @michaellynch, Derek says the best ideas help valuable people inside companies build what they need — and how the market for that is infinite. Michael mentions Retool. I believe that VE has that type of potential. VE helps any user inject logic — budgets, allocations, constraints — into any interface using simple rules for simple situations all the way up to and including tying into HR and AAD (RBAC anyone?) And it installs and activates in seconds.

I’m not showing the full system publicly yet, but as a solo developer, I’d love to walk a few thoughtful folks through it. Derek and Michael are at the top of my list, but if this resonates with you, I’d be glad to talk.

I’m asking: - Is this a real pain you’ve felt before? - Would you use a logic layer like this — even on apps you don’t own? - Where’s the line between helpful logic enforcement and overreach?

About me: I got my start at Microsoft as a freshman — still no degree. I’ve been an SCO Unix SA, a System Architect at Boeing, a web developer for multimillion-dollar ecommerce systems, and a Delivery Engagement Manager / Jr. Consultant for Oxford Computer Group, NA. I’ve also worked retail, driven transit buses, and rebuilt after bankruptcy.

Now I’m here — and I’ve filed multiple provisional patents covering all aspects of Variable Engine.

Thanks in advance for your time. Happy to answer questions.