How I Plan My Coding Projects

As a web developer, this is how I plan my coding projects to maximize enjoyment & efficiency while coding my own projects. It may be slightly different in other areas of development, but I believe the principles remain the same. And it will be different when working for in a team at a company, and maybe even for a client, as you need to get others up to speed rather than just sitting back enjoying the coding. Either way, I hope you gained something from this video that is solely based on my own experience and what I find best works for me. Enjoy!

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📓 Learning Resources:

👨‍💻 My Coding Gear:

[digicyc]

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!

[AlfredoHAC]

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!

[da]

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

[bluzeman]

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.

[andresvidoza]

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

[javaeddie]

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!

[Dabblng]

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!

[omaral-qasmi]

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 (YouTube channel)

[yusufali]

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.

[sbtoolman]

You are my favorite coder..screw that you are my favorite Youtuber!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!

[BrandonClapp]

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.

[ThePeacefulRulerOfRaspberries]

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”

[Symuality]

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.

[stanleeleo]

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.

[Hoptronics]

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..

[MauriceWilliams]

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

[lumagabriela]

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

[kwanryan]

I'm trying to build a prototype chemistry me luck

[e_velog]

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

[JMuks]

Knight in shining armour, awesome content dude 🔥 👨‍💻