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Which way do I go?

by glenpud
2 replies
Hi everyone

So I have, in my mind, an idea that I really want to follow through.

It is to build a piece of software that is, in its basic form, an attendance tracker - with an added extra that would make it different and (hopefully) more marketable and would be its usp.

I have learnt basic html/css, but I'm not sure how useful it would be for me to continue on this path any further, as I don't currently envisage my software being web based, so I'm not sure if continuing down the web design coding route would be worthwhile to this specific project.

If you were to make a start in coding, with a piece of software in mind that would likely be used on a tablet or laptop where would you start?

On a separate.e but similar note, I am also looking to get into BUsiness intelligence / finance analyst at some point in the next couple of years, and any heads up on what I can learn now would also be a good help from people who have done that.

Thanks in advance.
  • Profile picture of the author robomedia
    I would start with designing a database (relational probably) . The interfaces can change - web browser, tablet, watch, phone, but the data will stay.
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  • Profile picture of the author cfountain
    You should start by thoroughly designing and documenting the application on paper.
    1. What is the purpose of the application?
    2. What benefit does it provide, what problem does it solve?
    3. Who will use it?
    4. How will they use it? Phone, Tablet, Web site,
    5. What platform with they use? Android, iOS, Windows, all?
    6. How will they get the application? App store, install from download?
    7. Diagram the underlying business process or work flow.
    8. Define what types of user roles and permissions will exist.
    9. Mock up each screen of the application. This is the fun part! Identify each data field and its data type (text, checkbox, date/time, select box) and options. I use the free Pencil app on my desktop (Home - Pencil Project) but there are also free online tools like NinjaMock https://ninjamock.com, Mockup.io https://mockup.io/, and others.

    By the time you finish documenting the above you will have a clear idea of the design and functional requirements for your application.

    At this point you will have enough information that you could effectively outsource the development to a programmer or begin development yourself I you plan to further study programming.

    So far as you have described it, your application would be a candidate for a web-based application or a mobile app (or both).

    I suggest you look at technology like Phonegap that allows you to write once and deploy to multiple target platforms.

    Good luck!
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