Loud Baking

So here is the project’s timeline. I will update this as things get done and hopefully stick to it.

Phase 1: (1 week) deadline: June 7th

• Sketch and perfect the wireframe (5 days)
• Define the use cases (5 days)
• Install Trac/SVN, setup CakePHP (1 day)
• XHTML the wireframe (2 days)
• XML the use cases (2 days)
• Select a name (7 days)

Phase 2: (2 weeks) deadline: June 21st

• Design web app (11 days)
• XHTML web app (3 days)
• Install, test and optimize the required vendor classes (2 days)
• Code the required extra classes (5 days)
• Draw the general architecture (site, web app, web services, database, etc.) (1 day)
• Write the teaser page to recruit early-users (1 day)
• Design the database (2 days)

Phase 3: (4 weeks) deadline: July 19th

• Design and implement teaser page (2 days)
• Develop web app (28 days)
• Design site (6 days)
• Design logo (10 days)
• Copy writing for the website (12 days)
• XHTML website (5 days)

Phase 4: (2 weeks) deadline: August 2nd

• Testing (14 days)
• Add new third parties (10 days)
• Write and distribute press release (2 days)
• Launch

Like with anything else, developing a web app starts with a minimum of planning.

• How long should it take?
• How much will it cost?
• How simple will it be?

Common difficulties you face when planning:

• Saying 15 weeks is already planning way too much in advance
• Cost will depend on the time it takes (which isn’t set in stone)
• Advanced features means harder for competition to beat but also longer time to build

Here’s how I see it:

• Breaking it all down to 5 main phases, each ranging from 1 week up to 4 weeks for a total of 9 weeks
• Maximum budget: $13,000 (initial marketing included)
• Features: the strict minimum, sticking to the essential features and nothing extra for now

That’s it for now - next up will most probably be a slightly more detailed timeline, but for now I will get back on the wireframe sketches.