How I Plan My Coding Projects - 9 Steps

Define Your Goals00:01:05

Start by clarifying the 'why', 'who', and 'what' of the project. Your objectives dictate your choice of technology, features, and overall coding approach.

Write User Stories00:02:42

List out functional requirements from the perspective of the user to keep the design user-centric and avoid technical complexity too early in the process.

Define Data Models00:05:18

Identify the data your application needs and its relationships. Planning your data structure on paper first helps catch potential issues before they become part of the database schema.

Ruthless MVP Definition00:06:39

Pare down features to the absolute minimum necessary for functionality. This prevents scope creep and ensures you focus on core value delivery.

Create Simple Wireframes00:07:44

Sketch basic layouts to visualize user flow and interaction. Keeping this simple—without worrying about design or tools—helps clarify the application structure.

Future-Proofing and Architecture00:09:12

Consider the long-term intent of the project (scale vs. hobby) and define the high-level components, such as the need for backend, API, or frontend services.

Pick Your Tech Stack00:11:39

Choose the simplest tools that fit your skill set and project requirements. Ensure you have a clear deployment path before starting to code.

Execution Process00:14:15

Follow a structured development cycle: project skeleton, database setup, backend API implementation, frontend integration, and iterative feature development with early testing.