Software Design and Planning

trag1c · September 27, 2015

So I am a self taught programmer who has been programming since the age of 14 (5 1/2 years experience), I have absolutely 0 schooling or training on the subject, everything I've learned has been done through books, web resources and my own research/experience. I've never had a hard time with programming but my biggest flaw as a programmer is that I don't know how to plan properly project. I've always just started a project with an end goal and just programmed towards that which has worked fine for learning. But I am at the point now where I have a (fairly large) software product idea which I would like to pursue but I think my method of just winging it without a plan or design won't be sufficient especially if I am bringing other people into the project.

So for those of you who are in the industry how does your company go about the process of designing/planning a new project?

RedSphyxis · September 27, 2015

So I am a self taught programmer who has been programming since the age of 14 (5 1/2 years experience), I have absolutely 0 schooling or training on the subject, everything I've learned has been done through books, web resources and my own research/experience. I've never had a hard time with programming but my biggest flaw as a programmer is that I don't know how to plan properly project. I've always just started a project with an end goal and just programmed towards that which has worked fine for learning. But I am at the point now where I have a (fairly large) software product idea which I would like to pursue but I think my method of just winging it without a plan or design won't be sufficient especially if I am bringing other people into the project.

So for those of you who are in the industry how does your company go about the process of designing/planning a new project?

for starters you'd need the idea.

then figure out how much or what resources will be needed. IMO this part is the most crucial part, one small miscalculation on anything can be disastrous even more so when its about manpower.(note that this part includes time, manpower, money, connections/advertisements, distribution etc.)

Surveys/opinions, it's not really required but this can be really helpful and is a way to test out the waters if the market would actually buy your product.

as for the next parts it's highly subjective and best to consult your team rather than others on how you should go about it. Following typical approaches is the go to here.

*also I'm too lazy too dive into something that needs to be carefully discussed in great detail that it would make a single post seem like a chapter in a book or a answer from stackoverflow.