Ask HN: What is the first thing you do before starting a new project? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What is the first thing you do before starting a new project?

#21

Post by vishaldpatel » Sat, Jul 09, 2011, 6:38 PM UTC

AlexBlom wrote: post #16

Speaking as somebody who generally plays a lead BD role vs. programming (but I'm assuming this question is a level higher than programming, with project being a startup). 1) Ask why people would use it (problem) 2) Figure out who would buy it (exact names, contacts) 3) Rough Wireframes, 5 slide pitch deck 4) That's all I need to meet with customers and get orders. I won't move forward until orders are secured and sig…

Are you saying that you won't move forward with any development - not even a prototype - until you have paying customers? And what does it mean to have a "secured and signed" order? Does it mean that they're about to cut you a first check as an advance on purchasing / subscribing to the product?

Have you always practiced this, or did it take some realization?

Thanks, - V

Re: Ask HN: What is the first thing you do before starting a new project?

#22

Post by spiralganglion » Sat, Jul 09, 2011, 6:46 PM UTC

I talk. I talk to everyone I know. I ask very non-technical people how they'd approach the technical challenges (if this project has a technical aspect). I ask very technical people how they'd approach the creative/artistic challenges (same comment). I buy a sketchbook and fill it with doodles and diagrams and notes and random, scatterbrained ideas. And I never look at it again. I'll read up on material related to the subject. I'll read up on material unrelated to the subject, and figure out how it could apply (the works of Joyce are great for this). I'll meditate (with or without aids). Sometimes — and I'm not joking about this — I'll pick some completely arbitrary activity and assign it ritualistic significance, with pertinence to the project I'm about to begin. (Once, prior to recording a song, I showered myself with a carton of orange juice while hopping to and fro on alternating legs, ululating wildly — it was significant, by assignment.)

Why all the nonsense? In some sense, it helps clear my mind of other projects. It helps me build up energy and excitement in anticipation of this new project.

It reminds me that I'm still alive, and that there are many things I could be doing in my life. While I may be a conduit or wellspring from which projects spring forth, there's no reason I have to be, except for the amount of love I feel for the work that I do.

Re: Ask HN: What is the first thing you do before starting a new project?

#23

Post by chetan51 » Sat, Jul 09, 2011, 6:46 PM UTC

barmstrong wrote: post #14

BustAName.com Not that this is really the most important, it just helps me wrap my head around it if I can start calling it something.

knowem.com is pretty great too.

Re: Ask HN: What is the first thing you do before starting a new project?

#24

Post by hnhg » Sat, Jul 09, 2011, 6:54 PM UTC

spiralganglion wrote: post #22

I talk. I talk to everyone I know. I ask very non-technical people how they'd approach the technical challenges (if this project has a technical aspect). I ask very technical people how they'd approach the creative/artistic challenges (same comment). I buy a sketchbook and fill it with doodles and diagrams and notes and random, scatterbrained ideas. And I never look at it again. I'll read up on material related to th…

I assume from the downvoting that this isn't a very popular approach.

Re: Ask HN: What is the first thing you do before starting a new project?

#25

Post by spiralganglion » Sat, Jul 09, 2011, 7:01 PM UTC

hnhg wrote: post #24

spiralganglion wrote: post #22

I talk. I talk to everyone I know. I ask very non-technical people how they'd approach the technical challenges (if this project has a technical aspect). I ask very technical people how they'd approach the creative/artistic challenges (same comment). I buy a sketchbook and fill it with doodles and diagrams and notes and random, scatterbrained ideas. And I never look at it again. I'll read up on material related to th…

I assume from the downvoting that this isn't a very popular approach.

I am under the impression that the purpose of voting is to reward interesting contributions to the discussion, whether or not you agree with what has been stated.

EDIT: To respond to the issue of the arguable merits of my post — I made my post because the majority of comments here are describing preparatory activities performed on one's computer. I wanted to give some of my non-computer related warmups, since they can also apply to projects that aren't necessarily software-oriented.

Re: Ask HN: What is the first thing you do before starting a new project?

#26

Post by anelia » Sat, Jul 09, 2011, 7:02 PM UTC

This is a tough one... I take a blank template that I have already prepared and make the project, filling it with the most incredible designs I have ever done. In a couple of days I look at it again and I usually change it completely... so the second version is actually the first one I show to anybody. And then it just happens!

Re: Ask HN: What is the first thing you do before starting a new project?

#27

Post by mindcrime » Sat, Jul 09, 2011, 7:03 PM UTC

Depends on what kind of project it is, what state of mind I'm in, etc. But basically I just sit down at the computer, and start. If I'm writing java, I fire up Eclipse, and write a main method, that just does

  System.out.println("done");

run that, and then start adding stuff. If it's a web project, and I'm using Grails, I do something like:

  [prhodes@voyager]$ grails create-app foobar

then fire up Eclipse, import the project and go from there.

Sometimes I'll break out a sketch pad, a box of colored pencils, and do some doodling / designing / brainstorming, but it just depends on what it is.

After all that, I fire up XMMS, and get some tunes going... Motley Crue, Queensryche, Metallica, Megadeth, Testament, Slayer, Danzig, whatever... just some good coding music.

Edit: Oh, wait, forgot a step... maybe the most important step. Putting on a pot of coffee to brew! :-)

Re: Ask HN: What is the first thing you do before starting a new project?

#28

Post by phyllotaxis » Sat, Jul 09, 2011, 7:11 PM UTC

spiralganglion wrote: post #25

hnhg wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assume from the downvoting that this isn't a very popular approach.

I am under the impression that the purpose of voting is to reward interesting contributions to the discussion, whether or not you agree with what has been stated. EDIT: To respond to the issue of the arguable merits of my post — I made my post because the majority of comments here are describing preparatory activities performed on one's computer. I wanted to give some of my non-computer related warmups , since they c…

Whatever others may say, I like you. I actually do as you do, regarding the notebooks. I have a dozen moleskines of all kinds, and my select fleet of "Idea Pens and Pencils" specific to the task. I rarely ever read what I write- the act of putting it safely in its place cement the threads together into an increasingly intricate web of the whole. While your OJ story is out there, I'd happily work with someone like you. Cheers-

Re: Ask HN: What is the first thing you do before starting a new project?

#29

Post by huhtenberg » Sat, Jul 09, 2011, 7:12 PM UTC

Don't know about others, but I don't generally have a specific moment that marks the start of a new project.

Projects typically grow from an idea that forms over time. It starts with spotting a need or an annoyance, then thinking if a product could solve it, then looking at competition, then considering how to position and market it, then how to make money of it, and lastly - a crucial moment - if it is worth an effort.

You know how they say that "ideas are dime a dozen"? I find that it is simply not true. Ideas that is well thought through are rare and they are worth a lot.

--

tl;dr - the first thing is to develop and validate the idea.

Re: Ask HN: What is the first thing you do before starting a new project?

#30

Post by spiralganglion » Sat, Jul 09, 2011, 7:22 PM UTC

phyllotaxis wrote: post #28

spiralganglion wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am under the impression that the purpose of voting is to reward interesting contributions to the discussion, whether or not you agree with what has been stated. EDIT: To respond to the issue of the arguable merits of my post — I made my post because the majority of comments here are describing preparatory activities performed on one's computer. I wanted to give some of my non-computer related warmups , since they c…

Whatever others may say, I like you. I actually do as you do, regarding the notebooks. I have a dozen moleskines of all kinds, and my select fleet of "Idea Pens and Pencils" specific to the task. I rarely ever read what I write- the act of putting it safely in its place cement the threads together into an increasingly intricate web of the whole. While your OJ story is out there, I'd happily work with someone like you…

They say that you're an expert in something when you can clearly explain it to others. The "throwaway notebook" strategy is, in my opinion, a great way to quickly and safely test (and refine) how much of an expert you are about the idea for your new project, at any level of granularity you care to attack it.