Ask HN: What do you use to organize your thoughts for a new website or project?
I'm in the early stages of planning a website, and for me this means jotting down lots of thoughts and ideas as I work to develop the feature-set, user roles, descriptions of expected model/view/controller structures, and other pieces of information that go along with every project. Previously I've used a basic text editor to organize this information, but given the scale of my new project I'm finding it lacking ... particularly since I have a need to share and collaborate with a business partner on some of these concepts.
I've tried a variety of tools ... both online, and offline ... but my desire to keep the project concept private until it's ready to launch, and my paranoia about how private the online "note-taking/project manageemnt" tools really are have left me going back to a text file for organizing all of my thoughts.
What do others use to organize this type of information? Is there something better out there?
(
47 comments
| 24 points
| on HN
)
We model UIs, entity-relationship's and use cases all free hand. I think it's a lot quicker than using something like visio, etc to mock-up ideas.
If it gets to a lot of words, back to the computer I go.
(1)I know the pen is over-specified, but I find writing with most pens/pencils so unpleasant that I even type and print single envelopes to avoid it. The delta (that specific one, not any) makes writing tolerable for me--I carry one in my pocket and use it even to sign receipts.
Yeah, it's a little tiny minor thing, but it makes a difference...
Make a mistake? Chuck a card. Missed something? Insert a card. Need to reorganize? Lay them all out on a floor and shuffle as necessary.
I'll never go back to notebooks or pads (or pens) again.
When I tried writing each table out on a post-it-note, it was so much easier - even enjoyable - to come up with a normalised schema.
I wonder if/when computer technology will advance to the point where it's as flexible and disposible as pen and paper?
http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
http://www.xmind.net/
I then 'persist' the ideas to a wiki once they're fleshed out.
Xmind Mind Mapping: I paid like 120 bucks for it, now they decided to open source it (that I did not like much, but now you can get it for free!) Their software is amazing. http://www.xmind.net/
MacJournal: Quick notes, texts, transcripts, voice notes, video notes, etc I have in there. They have full screen writing which is amazing. http://www.marinersoftware.com/sitepage.php?page=85
First stage UIs: Balsamiq. http://www.balsamiq.com/
Final UIs and documentation: Axure Pro (Windows only :( ) (VMWare anyone :) ) http://www.axure.com/
Creating manuals, customer support and FAQ: ScreenSteps. (I cannot recommend this software enough! AMAZING) http://www.bluemangolearning.com/screensteps/
Project Management: Merlin. Fantastic software. http://www.projectwizards.net/en/
Sales and CRM: Daylite. Just started using it. Very powerful, but the learning curve is steep. http://marketcircle.com/
Remote team work: Basecamp and Campfire. www.37signals.com
If everything else fails: a pen and paper :)
Hope this helps
Freemind is a good open source mindmap editor for the desktop.
Or you could try my online, browser-based mindmap app. http://thoughtmuse.com ;)
I find it really handy.
Personally I use Google Sites' wiki for single-person brainstorming because I can access it anywhere. Also Google Sites supports secure https and true 'private' sites.
Point being, don't fall into the trap of trying to get your info to live in one, unified, perfect system right from the start. Chaos is ok, just work in whatever format your brain needs you to at the moment and focus on reigning it in at a later date.
The wiki is for laying out basic designs, taking notes and logging my development progress. Also for keeping track of a schedule I've set up along with milestones to hit. It's a simple tool, yet very versatile because of the ability to easily create new, linked pages.
Some secondary tools, used sometimes: google calendar, voice recordings on my iphone (for when I'm driving), etc.
http://www.Gtdagenda.com
You can use it to manage and prioritize your Goals (for business but also in other areas of your life), Projects and Tasks. It has a Checklists section, for the routines and repetitive activities that any business has to do. Also, it features a Schedules section and a Calendar, for scheduling you time and activities.
Some features from GTD are also present, like Contexts and Next Actions.
And itβs available on the mobile phone too, so you can access it from anywhere.
Most pages get forgotten, but the act of working through the problems on paper helps to solidify the thoughts and designs in my mind (much like how they say that writing notes while studying will improve your overall retention).
Then the whiteboard for the quick stuff (like little notes I need to remember for the next few minute, but wouldn't).
Every few years I buy a pile of legal pads - cheaper in bulk :)
long walks / showers to help focus
dead simple
Once I can see the data, interact with it, and tweak it to my heart's content. Then I turn to tools like Balsamiq, or just a large pad and pen to generate the views.
I first started writing my thoughts in a paper notebook. But then i realized, I can't read my handwriting!
I did research for software both online/offline that has the power/flexibility and ease of use.
I settled on 2: basecamp and Zoho Projects.
After trying both out... I am going w/ Zoho Projects.
And you are right, its paranoia on your part about online tools and not based on facts.
Why would anyone go after you and only you?
Use what comes natural and helps get your thoughts out as fast as possible.
If it's a collaborative effort we use a whiteboard and take pictures.
If the idea is too complex to hold its basic design in my mind, or I am not passionate enough about it to put in the thoughts, then it isn't worth the trouble anyway.
Notepad2 -> todo.txt