Getting Started
Make sure you read the topic - Plan it & Design it. It actually tells you what.
- After picking an idea - do the items the Planning box first.
- Then, work your way down the page. Do Home Page Planning after you learn about HTML & CSS.
- Then, after your learn about SQL & Database, design your database.
- Then, after you learn some basic PHP - creating your login/user functionality.
- Finally, you are ready to do the Core Functionality!
Func Spec Examples
Take a look at other's func specs to get ideas. While Hadley's is good - it is very complicated. BTW - none of these are perfect!
- Margot's Ultimate Frisbee App
- Fiona's Skiing
- Eva's Clothes Generator - go down to Solutions Overview section
Step 1: Overall Planning
Scope of the Project
Give an overview of what problem you are trying to solve and what your app will do. This should be 3-5 sentences.
The website is a game at core- you enter a question, and another stranger online anonymously answers it. It could be about some decision you have to make, like eight balls were traditionally used for, or less serious things, because obviously the answers aren't exactly reliable.
Solutions Overview
Scope of the Project
How is your app going to solve the problem? What will it do? Describe high level functionality.
The problem is that people lack decisiveness in their lives, at scales large and small, and this decides for you, or lets someone else do it. The issue I find with a normal eight ball is that either you know it's random, or you believe that it's somehow sentient but even if it is, that sentient being you've invented is not human enough to make your human decisions.
Core Functionality
Do bullet points here listing what your app will do - maybe group them by area? Take a look at Margot's for ideas.
- You get to the site and you can choose to either respond to questions or ask your own
- Maybe something that shows how many active users there are at that moment so you know how likely you are to get a response
Step 2: Home Page Planning
Wireframe
Plan out what your home page will look like. Create a wireframe - either electronically or via pen and pencil. When you are done put copy of it in the box below!
Step 3: Database Planning
Database Diagram
Figure out the structure of your database - tables and fields. This is very important. Create this using a tool or via Paper. I use Microsoft Access as it is very easy and creates clean layouts.
