Progress

It’s been a while since I actually mentioned what’s been completed. Asides from the occasional ranty post I haven’t kept this up to date.

This is what I’ve done so far:

• Planning Report – the biggie at 12000+ words.
• High Level Use Cases – which will be broken down into their parts soon
• Normalised Data for Order Form
• Planning Gannt Chart
• Sample Class Diagram for Project

I plan to:

• Devise the database, including normalised data for stock reports and customer management
• Begin Producing Prototypes
• Create Testing Strategy

Breaking It Down

Recently, I’ve been having to think more and more about the scenario that the project is based around, and how I’m going to get it all together. The hardest part im finding is resisting the temptation to jump right in and forge ahead with work.

Mainly because I haven’t thought about how to tear it down into each individual component chunk yet. Since this is arguably my first ever “proper” software development exercise, I am finding myself thinking about trying to sort it all in one go as opposed to making it work with individual objects in mind.

Now I remember why there were quite a few articles when I was researching about object oriented development, and how it can be a minefield for beginners.

It looks like I’ll have to traverse this field very carefully.

2012 So Far

It’s been a while since I did anything with this blog. Suffice it to say that’s because I’ve been chipping away my planning report, and slowly but surely flooding my head with loads of ideas.

Whether or not these are good ideas are another matter entirely.

The planning report took a while but it certainly got me round to thinking about what I plan to do for the project. How is it going to look? What way am I going to implement it? Will it be all through a browser or should there be a native application to Windows?

Given how a lot of companies are looking for iPhone and iPad developers the rather amusing thought of learning enough Objective C in order to make a professional enough looking (and working) application seems a bit more daunting when I have to consider time for other modules in my last Block of HND. The masochist in me said “this might be interesting” but the student eager to get a good pass is screaming “what the hell are you thinking? You might make a mess of it!”

Maybe if I’m feeling brave enough after making it work to the scope I’ve tentatively written down (it’s yet to be verified before I design and build) I might have a butchers at making a stock control app or something for the iPhone.

In the meantime I think it would be prudent to start thinking about where things go and get the logic nailed down before I start having more flights of fancy.

Obligatory Research Procrastination Admittance

Happy New Year!

Now doing some hasty research into different software development methods since my first draft is due soon.

Thanks to the visiting of loved ones over the holidays and extra shifts at my work I’ve surprisingly had less time to do my research and planning report essay than what I would have liked.

Oh well, such is the work/life balance.

A particular life-saver for me has been ebrary Books found via Athens since I can access a boat load of books and articles without having to leave the house, a particular boon since the weather has been rather bad lately and my trains are cut off