How I Plan My Coding Projects 

In my 20+ years coding professionally, I wish I would have known more the emphasize of "Don't be so strict". This is so important. It won't be perfect and refactoring is a term that people tend to forget. You can write code in a way that you prepare for easier refactoring, but don't have to spend so much time on getting everything "perfect". Great video!

Just when I’m starting a project!

Forgetting about deadlines is a huge tip and a very accurate take on it.

I'm trying to build a prototype chemistry simulator.....wish me luck

Dude you're just saving me from myself, because I'm kinda overwhelmed by all these "Industrial Standards" created everyday by tons of programming teams. I like to think that programming is more an art than just a science, it helps me to enjoy more the process and charge me less. Thanks for that, Forrest!

I really like the way you go about your project. I'm also exited for your future projects keep up the great content.

I laughed when he ended with the tip “always leave yourself with something to do the next day”, cause I always leave myself with a skull crushing bug to fix 😂😂 so maybe that advice shouldn’t be “taken as you will”

Bro... I found this video trying to figure out how to use Jira to help me structure myself to finish projects. I'm glad that I did because I feel like I'm already getting board with the project I started on this with. We have a similar way of looking at coding and your video helped me to remember why I started this in the first place. I have gotten so wrapped up in the ever changing "Industry Standards" and "Best Practices" that I forgot to enjoy myself. I guess we all get that sometimes but I appreciate you bro! You earned a Sub!

Thank you very much for this video! Exactly what I needed!

This video is gold. I'm currently working on a project and everywhere I go I see people saying to do this or that, 100 steps just to set things up before code and most of it won't be that useful and really unmotivates us. Glad to hear I'm not the only one

Love your vids and overall down to earth personality. I’ve been a developer for a while now and I definitely wing it on personal stuff. If I spend much time trying to plan I end up never starting. Better to try, see room for improvement, refactor and move along. That’s also the best way for me to remember things. Like you said, just dedicate the time to it.

If you spend the whole day researching, spend the whole day researching. If you get a lot done, you get a lot done. Just focus that time slot no distractions on your project on a consistent basis and you're already ahead of most other individuals trying to do the same thing -Forrest Knight (RU-vid channel)

Loving the pace of these videos...learning a lot from you!

This makes me feel a lot better about my "Meh - I'll just wing it" attitude towards personal projects. I'll definitely do things like creating a database schema since planning that out properly will save me time later but there's a lot of things I'm just rolling with, haha.

Great content! I consider myself a hobby level programmer, though I do have a CS Bachelors. One of the hardest things I always found when starting a new project is figuring out HOW to get started. I 100% subscribe to the minimum viable product idea. Just get the basics working, and if you’ve managed to write extensible code it’s MUCH easier to add features as needed.

Just found this channel ! As a new starter within the industry, this channel has boosted my confidence alot ! Thanks Forrest :)

When you said don't set deadlines, I couldn't agree more. Everyone always says how important deadlines are to stick to. Then you see what they completed & find that with a slight bit more attention to detail, it could have turned average work into great work. Thanks for a good video!

9:39 Yes having a schedule is a major key factor for staying consistent I've learnt this first hand this week.

Last second tip was 🔥 Always great content!!!

one of the best videos i saw on the topic of programming. thanks a lot man

This is really awesome content. Love how you emphasize throughout the video that there's no rigid way on how to do things (as it should be). though I'm not really that interested in web development this was still really helpful

This came right on time haha. I agree with every word whole-heartedly! Appreciate your content and knowledge. Blessings fam!

Thanks for sharing your word on this. I'm kinda revisiting some personal projects I pushed off because of missed deadlines.

Great video. Was very good to hear how you go about your personal projects👍🏽

i've just discovered your channel, the content is really good man keep it up !

I’m not far into my career, but I do a lot of this in the same way. Go with the flow and structure things in whatever way the work progresses forward. Don’t get too bogged down as long as you understand and can explain what you did.

Perfect! Thanks a lot for giving us perfect advise for finding our way in coding life.❤

Since I barely have time code now, I just come here and get my dose of code 😬 Love the videos dude!

It's videos like this is the reason why i am subscribed to this channel thank you for making programming so much easier and comforting Forrest. I have to ask an advice i am looking to get my first devops job in IT i have no experience the field but am finishing my bachelors in computer systems technology i have 3 certs in aws any tips for interviews, etc anything would be greatly appreciated thank you Forrest and keep up the great work :)

Have not written code for a job in almost 20 years it was daunting thinking about the first steps I took all those years ago. I have a medium sized project in mind and it was refreshing to learn, again, that I really just need to download visual studio and start.. if I need diagrams later to figure stuff out then that's when I'll reacclimate myself with dia or whatever.. no more video research. Here I go.. already started the install.. thank you for the inspiration..

Finesses, I really loved that word you used. Really making your code and UI have some finesses. just like an Art project.

Most of the time I plan out the project before writing any codes; it makes me see the big picture and its fun. I ask a lot of questions from the business before starting any development and depending on the project scope. This is programming.

Knight in shining armour, awesome content dude 🔥 👨‍💻

Hi Forrest, I'm 28 and from Guatemala, and I don't know why nor How I started to have some interest on codying, and I'm so grateful that I found this excelent channel. Just Keep it like now. Your videos are so great.

You are my favorite coder..screw that you are my favorite RU-vidr!I like your approach how you discuss things your thinking about.I have literally just started learning to code.I have been working on Html and once i feel comfortable enough to make a webpage without constantly looking at a book or video i will move on.I try to work an hour a day but sometimes life gets in the way.But i am still gonna keep pushing.Basically what i am saying is thanks for being you and doing what you do for us!

Wow I needed this

I definitely did try to do the whole user stories, domain model, mockup, and deadline route with a project I actually liked but then, like you said, I missed a deadline and I haven't touched it for months now. You were right lol

Ty for the improvement advices

Trying out the Tabnine Pro. Thanks for the discount!

I love it!!! Awesome content Forrest. You are really on top of it, even with the new baby. I hope there aren't to many sleepless nights. 😁

I was worried about starting to work on a personal project with a potentially high rate of return in the near future. I was scared to start working on the MVP and was lost in these "industry standards". Your video has proven alot of assumptions I had wrong. I am setting up a schedule to work on this consistently and go easy on it and have fun coding it out. I will treat it more like an art than science. Thank you for the valuable insights.

my first time watching you and I subscribed, I love your video

By accident I stumbled over your video. I basically do all my personal and professional projects as you say. And I enjoy programming! I was a professional software engineer and lost my passion for programming, with all the rules and restrictions modern organizations demand and moved to product management. There my programs helps me to get my or others, jobs to be done more efficently. The last 2 hints I found very useful, plan a dedicated timeslot regularly and set a new task every time to keep the privat project going on.

Cool, thanks for making this video!

Thank you, great video😊

Thanks for the headsup,,,I'm definitely gonna check it out bro

Im also a disciple of first sketching the UI's before coding, such an elegant method 😎😎. I used to just start coding, like that and trying to figure out next step later but using a piece of paper to first figure out your general plan is such a gem.

10:05 9:39 The part with schedule and consistency, but no deadlines. i like it. 👍

This video is fantastic and is on point. I am a hobbyist python programmer and love the coding experience based on the views you have just mentioned. The best part for me is to ensure I leave a piece of the meal for the next day, and so on. There is always the eagerness for me to complete the project. The only tool I use is the free Trello Board. Thanks for the Video, and I will be watching out for more content.

You inspired me sir. Thank you so much

Having a consistent time to sit down and work on your project, even if it's 15-30 minutes, is huge for making progress. That's really the only structure that I've found valuable.

Amazing content sir, I love it

Thanks Forrest!

wow perfect timing rec!!

insanely helpful video, reminded me how how less I need to overthink and how more I should over do. Thank you!

It's funny, after trying to set deadlines and stressing out (exactly as Forrest described) I ended up just going with the flow after getting a basic idea of what I need. I still stress about getting things perfect and I tend to refactor a lot to try and get things perfect (so it takes a long time for me to get shit done tbh). Probably a bad trait to have... but I'm trying to build these projects for my Portfolio so I hold them to a high standard.

This guy is my inspiration 🙏

I agree with your overall message for doing solo coding projects, as using industry-standard workflows and tools at all times is definitely overwhelming and a lot of extra unnecessary work (as you mentioned, for collaboration/communicating your work to others.. since you are the only one on the project) That being said though, if you are serious about getting a job in the industry and are in a situation where you still don't have a foot in the door, I highly recommend against this, and instead recommend that you use all of these tools and workflows as getting used to it ahead of time will make you more desirable from a job-market point of view. Saying that you have experience from private projects making simple UI mockups and UML diagrams for your planned features, and also going through the motions of then making issues and storing that documentation within JIRA/Confluence (or another industry standard equivalent) before... this is a huge plus for hiring you over other inexperienced workers from a hiring manager's point of view. It shows you're dedicated and doing everything you can to build yourself up without yet getting an official opportunity to do so yet as well! Anyhow, for those solo-projects you do on the side while working an industry-standard job, then I totally get ForrestKnight's suggestions and agree, but just keep ↑ in mind as well if that advice is applicable to you in your situation! :)

Thanks. Inspiring

thanks man this really helped :)

i've abandoned so many projects because i wasted way too much time on Figma to make hifi mockups for projects for which i had a very very clear image in my head - and therefore didn't actually need a mockup for - is kinda insane. haven't done that for the one i'm currently working and it made a world of a difference in my motivation. i'm actually working on the project and achieving things instead of just giving up lol. insane

This was fairly helpful to me!

Dope vid thwnk u man

This is great advice, Forrest! 😊 Im a newbie coder here although I have a background in art and design, one thing i like to do especially when Im learning a new programming language, ill learn some basics first enough to get started on a project, but then some days ill take what Ive learnt and combine that with my love of making art. Ive been making visual art for most of my life and code to me can be another medium the same way that paint and brushes are. Its the act of removing the pressure of having to get to a specific outcome ALL of the time and allowing myself to have fun with and experiment with code, that furthers the learning process for me. Any other code artists out there? 😊

i liked the last piece of advice of leaving yourself something to do a next day so that you have no hesitation starting again

I recommend Rich Hickey's approach of "Hammock Driven Design". The TLDR; is that the cheapest place to fix a bug is on the whiteboard. Spend less time on the keyboard and more time in design (with the team and the client). Planning is such an underrated tool in the industry. Most clients I work with want bums in chairs and hands on keyboards. A year later they wonder why the software is unmaintainable.

A thousand thank you’s holy cow

Tabnine sponsor is so cool! Great video

That last one was gold 🥇

i feel extra chill after watching this vid

Thank you 🙏

*Just when I needed it*

one man can change the world

I saw Jesus today

nice clean monitor same as mine

Nice video. May I know what's the notebook that you use here? Looks very handy.

My advice would be: 1. sometimes go broad and shallow (basically the MVP) to get a rough idea and get something running to enjoy. 2. Sometimes take a small part of it and go deep, deep down and make the details perfect to explore complexity and pitfalls of _difficult_ tasks, especially when you are new to a technology, language, framework. 2b: Hot tip: from time to time aim to intentionally try something new, a new algorithm, some new commands, some other way to do _even when you could do it the usual way_ . You will always learn something, and be it that the fancy shiny stuff was a dead end, but now you have experienced _why_ by yourself. 3. Sometimes develop and debug critical subsystems in a separate sandbox or simulator to get these straight without the weight and the dependencies of the whole project. That also helps to get interfaces right (testing...). And yeah, I totally support the idea to be relaxed and switch between these subjects by gut feeling and day performance. Don't be the "The steak is perfectly grilled, now let's start peeling the potatoes" guy...

My biggest takeaway: as a solo developer, consider approaching projects favoring the advantages of myself as an individual as opposed to a team of individual talents. Very helpful looking forward, thanks for the perspective!

Fuck, best advice ever. For code and for life! thanks

I literally just paused the video to get the Tabnine extension. I might end up buying depending on how much I like it. This sounds like Kite without the creepy monitoring that Kite did. I might end up purchasing a license.

I was f-ed up for so long by unrealistic personal deadlines that piled up, never actually getting done. Turns out it's a perfect way to ruin motivation (and will to live, frankly speaking). So yeah, the finesse advice is right on point, thank you for the video!

Thank you

Using tabnine because of ya!

Thanks gilfoyle

well yup I did enjoy tab9....... it's actually good and i have an exam tomorrow but FK's(forrestknight's) video is actually more important...

Thanks a billion

I have been creating many apps in my whole programming journey and I really enjoyed the ladder experience, I don't have anxiety of thinking if can do it or not I just enjoy the road, but now I feel I need to learn how to plan things before hopping to my text editor hahaha and it's gives me anxiety haha I hope I overcome it .

1. Draw out how you want the project (website, app, etc) to look [3:09] 2. Do some research to get a better understanding of the project details [3:54] 3. Leave minor or less important details (colors, fonts, etc.) for later [4:16] 4. Decide which technologies to use (frontend, backend, frameworks, database, etc..) [4:28] 5. Figure out what you should be doing first [4:56] 6. Time to code!! [7:28] 7. Build a schedule, but don't set deadlines [9:36] 8. GOLDEN TIP: Always leave yourself with something to do the next day! [11:17]

Asking for where you got that epic keyboard. I have been a self taught programmer for many many years and even still I am trying to understand how to do programming I had to hop from many different languages to understand how programming works I started at a young age but I do wish now that I am older that some of the RU-vid and other websites had good tutorials back then. If there was one thing I wish I told myself is to not give up because someone on stack overflow was being a jerk to you. -Best of luck to anyone out there!

'Always leave yourself with something to do for the next day' That pretty much sums up the whole video

Nice ideas:)

Is that Jim Butcher's Storm Front book of the Dresden Files series in the background?

You make great video as well

thanks

What's your keyboard? is it mechanical and how good is it from your experience using it?

00:00 Planning coding projects can vary from professional to personal projects 01:26 Tab 9 is a good code completion tool 02:58 Discussion on creating a personal website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript 04:22 Research and planning are crucial before starting development. 05:58 Create a simple MVP for Social Leader leaderboard 07:17 Start building your personal project without worrying about professional practices. 08:46 Start coding with boilerplate and figure things out as you go. 10:12 Treat coding like an art, not a science

Just as you were explaining why you don't need to setup a project management software, I got an ad for jira lol. (if you set the ad roll timestamp on purpose, great job! xD)

tnx so much code jesus

Homie is lefty ! That’s how you know he is a beast at Computer Science :D.

Coding as an Art !! Absolutely