I started a personal project quite a while ago based on how I acquire, process and store information coming into my life - developing something to help me organize an ever increasing volume of information:
>[T]here are two main tasks inherent in the process of assimilating new information into one’s life. The first is __processing__, the initial evaluation of incoming information. At this stage, the most improvement can be made by streamlining how information comes in and the methods by which it is initially reviewed. The second stage … is __storage__: organizing and collecting data so that it can be recalled easily when needed.
I have a major problem focusing on unpaid projects — without that external feedback, I feel free to pursue my interests randomly. Unfortunately, my mind _loves_ to toss out new and interesting ideas as soon as I start working on an existing (yet still interesting) brainstorm of mine. As a result my Development folder on my iBook is littered with half-finished ideas, usually abandoned at some ‘block’ in the coding process that came about for various reasons:
1. Kitchen-sink coding: adding in every new and interesting feature I think of.
2. Code choice: What feature do I code next?
3. Framework/language/ability limitations: Is this possible?
4. General malaise: Am I really all that interested in this project?
I find most frustrating the fact that I have none of these problems when working on contract or as an employee. Perhaps the best way to work around them is to devise some way of providing that feedback.
The gist of this post, however, is that I’m returning to the original project - codename “Pony”, the original idea - and seeing that to completion. Any new ideas will be captured and deep-frozen until I’m ready to see them through. I’ll continue work I’m doing for others, of course, but all my personal projects are about to take a back seat to just this one.
Let’s see if I can take it from where it is today to beta launch before the end of the year!
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