1. PLANNING
Here are the key steps in initiating a software product. Define your vision, execution plan, roadmap, and team structure.
"The most fundamental problem in software development is complexity. There is only one basic way of dealing with complexity: divide and conquer."
- Bjarne Stroustrup
Depending on your founding team, you may need to hire additional personnel, such as developers or designers, to build your product. Here are the main description of developer roles and specialization:
FRONT-END DEVELOPER:
A front-end developer focuses on the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) aspects of a website or application. They work with languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create the visual and interactive elements that users see and interact with directly. Their goal is to ensure that the application is aesthetically pleasing, easy to navigate, and responsive across different devices. They work with the designers to evaluate the feasibility of their prototypes.
BACK-END DEVELOPER:
A back-end developer works on the server side of a web application. They manage databases, server logic, and application programming interfaces (APIs) that power the front end. They use languages like Python, Java, Ruby, or Node.js to ensure that the application functions correctly, handles user requests, processes data, and communicates with databases and other systems.
What is an API?
An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of rules and protocols that allows one piece of software to interact with another. It defines how requests and responses should be structured and what functions or data can be accessed. APIs are used to enable integration between different systems and services, allowing them to work together seamlessly.
FULL-STACK DEVELOPER:
A full-stack developer has expertise in both front-end and back-end development. They are capable of working on the entire stack of a web application, from designing and building the user interface to managing the server, database, and application logic. Full-stack developers have a comprehensive understanding of how the entire system works and can contribute to all aspects of a project.
TIPS & TRICKS
Hiring a full-stack developer is ideal for small teams, startups, or projects with budget constraints, as they can handle both front-end and back-end tasks, enabling rapid prototyping and seamless integration. However, for complex, scalable projects requiring high-quality user interfaces and robust back-end systems, it's better to hire specialized front-end and back-end developers who can focus on their areas of expertise, ensuring the application is both scalable and maintainable.
BUILD YOUR FOUNDING TEAM
Team members will often wear multiple hats, and quality assurance (QA) responsibilities will likely be shared among them. Identify the required roles and responsibilities for each team member and create detailed job descriptions to guide the hiring process. Crafting effective job descriptions is both an art and a science, requiring significant time, effort, and iteration to perfect.
Some team members may need to develop or refresh specific skills based on the technology stack, which will be discussed in the next section. You should also select appropriate communication and collaboration tools, like Slack or Jira, to enhance team efficiency.
choose your PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHOD
Once your team is set, deciding on a methodology that suits your needs is essential. Start with a methodology that fits your current needs and refine it as your project evolves.
Discover the two most popular methods:
Whatever the project management method you choose, the important thing is to stay agile.
APPLY THE AGILE METHODOLOGY
Agile Methodology is a flexible and iterative approach to project management and software development. It focuses on delivering small, incremental improvements to a product, emphasizing collaboration, customer feedback, and adaptability.
It emerged in response to the limitations of traditional project management approaches. It was formalized with the creation of the Agile Manifesto in 2001 by a group of software developers. The manifesto outlines values and principles aimed at improving the way software is developed.
AGILE CORE PRINCIPLES
1. Customer Satisfaction. Deliver valuable software frequently, with a preference for shorter timescales.2. Embrace Change. Welcome changing requirements, even late in development, to provide competitive advantage.
3. Deliver Working Software. Regularly deliver working software to showcase progress.
4. Collaboration. Promote close, daily cooperation between business people and developers.
5. Motivated Teams. Build projects around motivated individuals and give them the support they need.
6. Face-to-Face Communication. The most efficient and effective method of conveying information is through face-to-face conversation
7. Working Software. Working software is the primary measure of progress.
8. Sustainable Development. Maintain a constant pace of development.
9. Technical Excellence. Focus on technical excellence and good design to enhance agility.
10. Simplicity. The art of maximizing the amount of work not done is essential.
TIPS & TRICKS
In Agile methodology, ceremonies such as daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives play a role in facilitating communication and progress. However, don't get bogged down by the formalities of these ceremonies initially. Focus on implementing the core principles of Agile, such as iterative development and regular feedback, rather than rigidly adhering to every aspect of the ceremonies from the start. As your team becomes more comfortable with Agile practices, you can gradually refine and adapt these ceremonies to better fit your workflow. Remember, the goal is to enhance collaboration and productivity, not to enforce a set of rules that may feel cumbersome in the early stages.
In Summary:
- Identify Developer Roles. Identify the need for front-end, back-end, or full-stack developers based on your project complexity and team size.
- Assign Team Responsibilities & Hire. Create clear job descriptions and allocate roles, ensuring team members can handle multiple tasks, including QA.
- Implement Agile Practices. Adopt Agile to encourage iterative development, flexibility, and continuous feedback, aligning it with your chosen project management method.
- Choose & Organize Tools. Select tools like Slack, Jira, or Kanban boards, and set them up to streamline communication, collaboration, and project tracking.