Starting off on your first project

This post first appeared on PhotoElectricChefs.

The toughest part of getting yourself to work is the first project. Once you’ve overcome this first project, the rest seem much easier. This post basically aims at getting one started. A few steps I think will help you get past this learning curve with a little ease.

Step 1: Define the problem statement clearly for yourself. Write down all the requirements, don’t go too technical. Just mention on the outside what you want your project to do.

Step 2: Break up step one into different parts. Go technical here. Break it into mechanical, coding and hardware electronics, and then further down into different components.

Step 3: Start writing down your plan for each component. If it’s a program, write the algorithm and logic for it. For electronic circuits, a block diagram; for mechanical parts, put down the designs. (Don’t be too technical here again.)

Step 4: List down all the components you need for your project. In case there are things you’re not certain of, find a way to conduct some tests on them. That is, instead of buying all the components, get one of each and see if it works the way you want it to.

Step 5: Get all the components and dependencies required by your project.

Step 6: Convert the flowcharts and designs into actual code, and the block diagrams into complete circuits.

Step 7: Test the components you’ve made separately.

Step 8: Put them all together. You’ll have your idea materialized.

Step 9: Test the complete product.

Step 10: Feel happy and start a new project.

This is just a bird’s eye view of how you should go about your project.