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???
03/11/06 14:13
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#111967 - Design Info
Responding to: ???'s previous message
Jan Waclawek said:
So far I never managed to get more than about 10% of what is really needed before I presented version 0.1 to the client/boss/whoever. I guess if I'd be able to write down a specification and strictly obey it, anybody else could do my job as well.

I think you are in pretty much the same situation as everyone else. You just need to think about what you need to work as an ordered development and the documentation needs will become apparent. This was nearly always the case when I was a consultant because the clients are generally non-technical marketing folk who really don't know what they want. You have to lead them by the hand.

We always used to start with a Product Specification that described what the product was supposed to do and how well it should do it i.e. function and performance. It does not matter that this is incomplete but it does matter that all sections are present (even those not yet defined) as it serves to show the client what you need to know to complete the job. Then we did what we called a Feasibility Study but its purpose was basically to work out how we would do the design and to flesh out the Product Specification. We would often put crude software together as part of this to show the client (much like your version 0.1). Only once this was done did detailed design begin and by then most things were pretty much tied down.

Ian


List of 24 messages in thread
TopicAuthorDate
How do you manage Documentation?            01/01/70 00:00      
   As soon as you finish??            01/01/70 00:00      
      User Manual            01/01/70 00:00      
         it all is very simple            01/01/70 00:00      
   too late and totally wrong            01/01/70 00:00      
      you have an easy life won't you            01/01/70 00:00      
         Of course, you only have enough informat            01/01/70 00:00      
            more on the above, the beauty of the hoo            01/01/70 00:00      
               in C?            01/01/70 00:00      
                  please do not accuse me of unnatural act            01/01/70 00:00      
         Design Info            01/01/70 00:00      
            viewpoint            01/01/70 00:00      
               General Principles            01/01/70 00:00      
                  the clients...            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Client Variety            01/01/70 00:00      
                     It's like I said last month ...            01/01/70 00:00      
                  Great            01/01/70 00:00      
                     I, J OK            01/01/70 00:00      
                        Repetition            01/01/70 00:00      
                           My old DOS based suite...            01/01/70 00:00      
               Two categories            01/01/70 00:00      
                  MIL498            01/01/70 00:00      
   write the documentation first            01/01/70 00:00      
      Good points..            01/01/70 00:00      

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