How do you plan your projects...?

[selfmindead]

I've been programming php for a while now ('bout 3 years) and I still don't really have a written-down approach to programming projects. I make big scripts, things like forums, and CMS', and auctions and so forth, all from scratch, but i kinda just write things out on my little white board in no particular order, and end up done in the end lol... i was wondering if anybody here actually has a method at which they go about planning their project in full before they actually execute it? If you do have a method, and you can post it here, I would really appreciate it! Thanks alot ahead of time, i hope this can spark some conversation aswell! maybe we can all improve our methods by listening to others' ideas =D

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[selfmindead]

EDIT: sorry double post....

 

[Tjobbe]

I tend to do web sites for people who really dont know much about the internet. so I have to spend a good days work at least learning as much about their company before I can go anywhere, I have to learn their products, best and worse sellers, target market, etc.

Then from this I can judge what kind of web site they need, design, navigation, usability etc. Then its a case of making some sketches and emailling them over, or showing them in person or whatever, then as soon as a layout is agreed, the next apparoach is designing, adding content, promotion etc.

 

[nick-8318]

I tend to do web sites for people who really dont know much about the internet. so I have to spend a good days work at least learning as much about their company before I can go anywhere, I have to learn their products, best and worse sellers, target market, etc.

Then from this I can judge what kind of web site they need, design, navigation, usability etc. Then its a case of making some sketches and emailling them over, or showing them in person or whatever, then as soon as a layout is agreed, the next apparoach is designing, adding content, promotion etc.

Thats a good approach

 

[will7]

First, I'll discuss with the client, either one-on-one if they're local, via e-mail if they're not, about their project. I'll ask many various questions about what they want, images they want to create, resources etc. Then, once I have an idea, I'll move onto the next stage.

I'll sketch some ideas - and I mean literally SKETCH - Pencil & Paper, drawing. I'll do, maybe, 5 - 8 different ideas. I'll then either scan these into the computer and propose them to the client, or recreate them in Photoshop and send them.

Then, I work with the client, sending regular design updates and repeatedly uploading to a temporary server and getting feedback. Repeat this until the client is happy.

It can be a slow process, but I feel it gets better results in the end. It works for me anyway, and both of my clients so far have been extremely pleased with their designs.

 

[adam_uk]

i dont do much planning tbh, i get client to give me, pages, sections, forms etc, give me idea on any style of layout, then do the rest

alot of clients i deal with "say do what you gotta do/wnt to do" yet when you show them a page youve done there like "nah i dont really want that one" im looking for something like this, so i force as much info out them as possible

then i code

 

[selfmindead]

yea adam thats about how things go for me too. Thanks for all your freelance opinions, but what about solid programming now? Lets say you wanted to make your own php-nuke, or your own vBulletin type bulletin board to put on hotscripts.com or to sell, how would you guys go about developing that?

 

[Fewski]

I would say write down all the features you want in it, find the features you should work on first (Login or the outline, ect.) Work on those and then get into the harder stuff.

Writing down is a big plus to me atleast.

 

[Tjobbe]

I'v eonly just started PHP and know the basics but I find it VERY helpful to do a flow-chart diagram of what I need and want the pages to do.

 

[hdgamer]

Ye I find that acutally putting the ideas down on paper and then scanning them to the computer seems to work best

 

[selfmindead]

cool, thanks guys. I've posted this on multiple other forums, and Ive come up with a good approach... I'm planning it out right now, and I'm formating it into a doc and pdf file. Its kind of like a backwards engeneering approach. You create a product description and a marketing campaign, ads and even a software-box cover, and then build your product around what your expectations were for it. Its kind of weird, but things come together really well (i built a banner & text ad management script using it)

but one thing i learned from all the threads i started and all the replies i got, was that everyone works differently, some ideas may work better, but people will even approach those ideas differently then others.

Thanks again for everybody's input, feel free to add more if u'd like!

 

[Stella]

LOL you already have your answer in your first post! Next time you "do" a site and have it all on your white board then don't clean it before you take a moment to go over all the things you have noted and put a number in front of each one in the order which you would do it/have done it. Then either take a digital pic of it or take a few moments to type it out for yourself. After a few different projects you will have your very own personalised "handbook" of project descriptions !