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Bruno
Bruno

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What are the first steps you take when starting a new thing from scratch?

Whether totally greenfield, or a substantial new part of an existing system — what do you do to ground yourself on a brand new project?

Top comments (6)

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ben profile image
Ben Halpern

I tend to find a physical pen and paper helpful in turning the problem into something my brain can understand — whether a data modeling issue or a frontend algorithm, pend and paper is a tremendously flexible tool 😆.

Pen and paper loses out to computers in storing and retrieving information, and updating on context, but this is effectively an exercise in understanding a problem and a note I'll later lose track of is totally fine.

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tq-bit • Edited

Exactly this. I'm using one of my trusted Bambooks for sketches and mental models. If the project is bigger, I tend to use one of their reusable whiteboards. Nothing goes over solving the problem before starting to code™

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Mostafa Said

Not the best way but I usually only use my imagination when starting a new project. No pen, no paper, absolutely nothing.

I find it the best way for me to avoid limiting my mind into doing only what I planned for. I think of the end result and start working my way to getting there and enhancing everything as I go on.

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codeyStein • Edited

I just type random ideas on Notes app for the iPad, then when I'm read I start to make the wireframe/sketch (the apple pencil makes the proccess a lot more enjoyable). Then I import it into Figma and start designing. And finally my favourite part, Coding it :D

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Jeremy Friesen

Write down what done looks like. Then make sure I have a test harness of some sort. And maybe draw a data diagram.

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𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐢 ✨

I usually begin by reading one or two short and succinct articles on the subject, taking notes as I go.