Developer Discipline The Art Of Producing Presentable Solutions Naga Chokkanathan April 2017
Developer DisciplineThe Art Of Producing Presentable Solutions
Naga ChokkanathanApril 2017
My Builder FriendEmpty Land
To
House (99%)
To
Likeable, Liveable House (1%)
The First 99%
● Understanding Requirements
● Understanding Limitations○ Budget○ Time○ Resources
● Solutioning● Building
● Technically challenging● More satisfying● More important● … So, we want to stay in
this zone: solve a problem and move to next problem
● … But, is the problem solved?
The Last 1%
● Feedback● Improving● Trial● Rework● A happy customer
● Less challenging● Boring● “Marketers’ Work”● Not Very important
○ For whom?
Effects of ignoring the last 1%
● Developer○ Working on the next great challenge
● Customer○ Struggling with user adoption challenges
■ Additional investment■ Delays in going live■ Dropped projects
● … Is it fair?
What is your Promise?
● Explicit:○ Configuration/Code that solves the
business problem, well tested, deployed
● Implicit:○ Presentable, usable
Configuration/Code that solves the business problem, well tested, deployed
How to address the Gap?
● Understand the mindset○ For you it is ‘yet another project’○ For them it is a lot more!
● Move from “Solutions” to “Presentable Solutions”
Presentable Solutions
● When you have developed your solutions, you are already 99% done!
● But, the remaining 1% can be the hardest○ If you do it as a separate activity, a later thought!
● Embed the “Making it presentable” attitude in the first 99% itself○ Magically, the last 1% gets filled
Three Questions
● Does it look right?● Does it flow right?● Is it easy for the user?
God is in the Details● Spell check, Grammar Check ● Uniformity
○ Colors○ Fonts○ Text Size○ Alignment○ Right Logos
● Intellectual Property Rights● Multiple Devices
● Automated Tools● Style Guides● Library of
○ Components○ Messages○ Sample Code
● Simulators
User Experience● Is it easy?
○ Too many clicks?○ Too much of movement between screens?○ How can we make it easier for the user?
● The Grandma Test● Walk in their shoes (Not mandatory, but good
for you)● Ask them to test (Mandatory!)
○ But, be prepared to hear the unexpected...
It Doesn’t Feel Right!● Err… What do you mean?● Be open to “Unclear” Feedback
○ Ask further questions○ Translate○ Rework
● Repeat until customer is happy :)○ It NOW feels right!
Unlimited Rework?● Not Really● Remember, they want the project to go live, more than you● Cut Assumptions● Have an open conversation about how to make it presentable, usable
What about New Requirements?● They will be happy to pay for newly
identified features○ Don’t blame them. You can imagine a lot more
when you see something
● But, can you make it part of the process?○ Multiple demos, instead of one big bang demo○ Understand “What feels right to them” early○ Define “Them”: Who are the ultimate end users
of your application?○ Gently ask the Gatekeepers to connect you to
them
To Summarize● Configuring/writing a presentable application is your responsibility● Understand your users better, develop something they would enjoy using● They will shower you with love and more projects :)
Q & A