How hard can it be to start a software development project? It can be very intimidating to start at the blank page. This talk offers some ideas how to make getting started less scary and more enjoyable, from the first keyboard stroke to a working usable system.

1. Do you want to code?
Lets Get Started
Jane Prusakova
@jprusakova

2. Green field development
• No prior system to fit into
• Define technology stack
• "File –> New Project/Solution"

3. Blank page is intimidating

4. Agile way: just start coding
• Decide what is the
most valuable thing to
build
•Write code

5. Before coding
• SCM repo
• Build process
• Deployment platform
• Test framework
•Write a test
•… then start coding

6. https://www.flickr.com/photos/eltpics @2013

7. But where do I start?
• Documentation
• Code examples
• Tutorials
• Frameworks

8. MVC application
Tutorial from CodeProject

9. Java with Hibernate
Tutorial from JavaTPoint

10. Android app
Article on AndroidAuthority

11. It works!

12. Something new and great
• Focus on functionality
• Refactor to achieve architecture
• Iterate

13. What to implement first?
YES
• Visible
• Important
• As small as possible
NO
• Inner layer
• First step of the flow
• Cross-functional concern

14. How much to implement?
• Production-quality code
• Automated tests
• Refactor

15. Iterate
• Build several useful features
• Refactor to reflect learning
• Notice patterns that apply
• Refactor to patterns if applicable
• Test everything continuously

16. But where is the flow?
• Developers are notoriously bad at
inventing user flow
• Less defined flow makes for better
usability
• Leave every path open

17. Linear vs Hub & spoke
Home
Pick a
product
Select
features
Retrieve
price
Select
quantity
Checkout
Home
Pick a
product
Select
features
Retrieve
price
Select
quantity
Checkout
Only one action is possible from every point. Any action is possible at any point.

18. Linear vs Hub & spoke
State
• Transition
• Context
Transition
• Action
• FromState
• ToState
State • Context
Transition • Action

19. Structured flow Open flow
• Houston Ballet
season subscription
1. Pick a package
2. Select day
3. Select performances
4. Review dates
5. Review seating prices
6. Select seating
7. Add to cart

20. Ah… so what do I code first?
• Implement a valid state
• Implement another valid state
• Implement transition
Valid options
 Nothing selected
Product selected
Product & term selected
Product Subscription
Term

21. Test scenarios
• Valid states exist
• Invalid states cannot exist
• Transitions out of valid states
• Transitions to valid states
• All valid states can be reached by
transition

22. Next steps
Add functionality
• Add states
• Add transitions
• Build additional linear paths
• Login
• Checkout
• Etc..
Invest in quality
• Refactor design
• Merge and split states
• Design additional paths
• Refactor code
• To fit the design

23. Do you want to code?
Lets Get Started
Jane Prusakova
@jprusakova