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Most frustrating about personal projects?

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:51 am
by alex.barylski
Obviously budget isn't a big deal :P

It occurred to me today, that having a plesant interface is a royal PITA when it's just me...followed by making the design CSS/XHTML compliant :)

I waaaaaaaaay prefer application design, planning, etc...followed by actually implementing ideas...

Anyways, those are my two least and most favourite aspects of personal project/software development, i'm curious, what are yours?

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 2:04 am
by RobertGonzalez
If I need a clean interface I build a clean interface. If I need a processing routine, I built that too. I build what I need and try to trip off what I live and don't like as all that does is make the project seem to take way longer than it should.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:11 am
by alex.barylski
Not sure I follow Everah... :P

You rip off what you like and rip out what you don't like?

Note to self: Never disclose any ideas to Everah :P

Honestly, I try and get ideas from all kinds of sources, but it's the design phase (Photoshop) that kills me...I can never get something to look cool like I want it to :)

Thats frustrating... :)

As for the CSS designs...i've come pretty far, I can't complain :)

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:41 am
by onion2k
The most annoying aspect of personal projects I find is finishing them. I hardly ever finish anything.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:58 am
by matthijs
Seems like your talents and/or interests might not be on the (graphical) design side. If that's the case it's a matter of trying to keep that part to a minimum by using very clean, minimal and simple designs for your front-end. Just line everything up, use a decent typography and you'll have a good base.

Then you can always look for some help to notch everything up a bit, graphically.

My annoying aspects: not enough time! I like to do things well and often end up researching a lot. But if you're on your own with a project there's just so little time for each project/aspect. I have to constantly remind myself of the priorities.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 4:19 am
by Jenk
onion2k wrote:The most annoying aspect of personal projects I find is finishing them. I hardly ever finish anything.
"

I doubt I'll even finish this po..

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:38 am
by Chris Corbyn
When you spend months on something and it seems like hardly anybody is interested. That can be a bit disheartening. I have to admint, building the project website is not the most exciting bit for me... I almost considered paying somebody to build the website for something I'll release soon but couldn't justify it when I won't get money from it (apart from maybe the odd donation).

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:42 am
by Chris Corbyn
~onion2k

*cough* Hopefully you're not scouting yourself for jobs at the moment :P That's not a good thing to mention ;) Even though we're all guilty of it.

I have to admit, I have sort of learnt not to pursue projects after a couple of days I can usually tell that it's not a project I'll finish. I'm finishing more projects now by being more selective about what I do. Starting new languages helps to bring a bit of fresh air back into your programming work too :)

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:30 am
by RobertGonzalez
Hockey wrote:It occurred to me today, that having a plesant interface is a royal PITA when it's just me...followed by making the design CSS/XHTML compliant :)

I waaaaaaaaay prefer application design, planning, etc...followed by actually implementing ideas...
Everah wrote:If I need a clean interface I build a clean interface. If I need a processing routine, I built that too. I build what I need and try to trip off what I live and don't like as all that does is make the project seem to take way longer than it should.
I supposed I should have said that when I develop a front end, even if it is not styled, I always make it compliant. I start that way so I don't need to worry about making it that way. Also, for personal projects, I always code the front end to Firefox usability.

As for applications, I like building applications a lot more than building usable front ends. Unfortunately, the two are tightly related, so you can't really avoid a front end to the application in most cases.

So for me, I usually build a working application with a usable front end. Heck, if it is useful for me there is a chance it might be useful for others. Why not make it usable and marketable.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 10:04 am
by jayshields
onion2k wrote:The most annoying aspect of personal projects I find is finishing them. I hardly ever finish anything.
Completely agree. The most frustrating aspect of any one-man project is motivation.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 10:06 am
by onion2k
d11wtq wrote:~onion2k

*cough* Hopefully you're not scouting yourself for jobs at the moment :P That's not a good thing to mention ;) Even though we're all guilty of it.
One reason I don't finish personal projects very often is because there's nothing compelling me to. There's no client or deadline. I'm the opposite with work projects, I finish them as soon as possible because there's a client and a deadline.

Another reason I don't finish personal stuff is because I'm stuffed full of amazing ideas for things to make. I don't have anywhere near enough time to do them all. I hop from idea to idea too much. In business having someone who can see solutions to problems and come up with creative ideas as easily as I can is a definite benefit.

I'm not looking for a new job just at the moment though.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 10:07 am
by onion2k
jayshields wrote:Completely agree. The most frustrating aspect of any one-man project is motivation.
Motivation isn't the problem. If anything I'm too motivated. I always want to be working on the next new idea.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 10:13 am
by jayshields
onion2k wrote:
jayshields wrote:Completely agree. The most frustrating aspect of any one-man project is motivation.
Motivation isn't the problem. If anything I'm too motivated. I always want to be working on the next new idea.
Well, that's basically what I meant, but I would call that a lack of motivation - maybe it's a lack of concentration or something.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 10:17 am
by Jenk
Mucho sameo hereo.

I'm constantly hopping from idea to idea. I tend to find that as soon as the idea becomes a familiarity with me (or once I have 'solved' it) that's it, I'm bored.. next Idea please.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:00 am
by Charles256
I feel you. I constantly switch back and forth from my space strategy game to my myspace like site. Last night I made some progress on the myspace thing... folders for users are created when they join..when they create a blog a blog folder and page are created. all dynamically of course..it's kinda fun... so yeah.. see. I'm losing concentration all ready.