Completing Large Software Projects
Recently I started working on a large Java/AJAX application on my own time. For several weeks I plodded away and ended up getting so frustrated at the lack of progress I was making. I was about to can the project and move on when I saw THIS article on LifeHacker.
Here's what I took away from the discussion:
This may sound simple and stupid to some, but it was not something I had ever been taught, either in school or in the workforce. I have already started making significant progress in my projects since I began implementing this philosophy.
Here's what I took away from the discussion:
- Never set out to write a large application in it's entirety.
- The first goal should be to create discrete sub-projects out of the large project
- Define clear and attainable small goals that in turn will eventually lead to the end of the project.
- Celebrate your accomplishments upon the completion of each step. This will provide positive re-enforcement of completion of the next goal.
This may sound simple and stupid to some, but it was not something I had ever been taught, either in school or in the workforce. I have already started making significant progress in my projects since I began implementing this philosophy.
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