As I get ready to celebrate my birthday this Saturday, I’ve decided to do something dramatically different. No I’m not base jumping, nor am I sunbathing nude - I’m challenging myself. Sounds like a fun birthday, huh? My challenge is to see if I can develop a working web application in three days. I figured there is no better time than this weekend, considering it’s a long weekend. Also, in my household birthdays are one of the few days where I get to choose what I want to do.
My Inspiration
One of the earliest design related phrases I heard when I first entered the web world was, “Good, Fast, Cheap” - pick two because you’re not getting all three. I’ve found that saying to be very true! Whoever came up with that bit of wisdom should get a big trophy.
It seems like every project I work on is a long road of decisions and revisions. I’ve also learned from developing nextwebstar.com that spending 8 months to build a site is entirely too long. The ability to do good work fast is a gift, especially for art and design. I will never forget the sidewalk artist I saw while vacationing last year. One man, thirty different colors of spray paint, an imagination, and 10 minutes later a 3′x4′ Picasso replica. The guy was truly amazing!
I’m starting to see the light. Whether you choose to do it fast and cheap there will always be at least one person that thinks your work is good - your dog. Besides, if it does really suck, it was only three days wasted.
Stay tuned to see how it all unfolds!
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9 Comments
On Friday, August 31, 2007 at 9:30:am
Well now that you’ve blogged it, it must be. I look forward to seeing what you can do in a weekend–it’ll be especially enlightening for all of us folks that are heading to DC Startup Weekend in a couple months.
Good luck, and happy birthday!
On Friday, August 31, 2007 at 9:30:am
Personally — the sunbathing nude seemed more interesting.
Just kidding, good luck! Can’t wait to see what happens.
On Friday, August 31, 2007 at 11:05:am
Good luck! What exactly are you planning on working on?
On Saturday, September 1, 2007 at 12:15:pm
What kind of web app will you be making
On Saturday, September 1, 2007 at 12:40:pm
The app is nothing groundbreaking - it’s actually a very simple idea.
It’s basically a polling app that allows you to poll the audience. Rather than asking questions you make statements, such as “I love pizza”. People can then agree with your opinions, or not.
My main goal is to make all site actions fast - to add, or to react.
Crap. It’s already noon!
On Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 12:48:pm
So, can we ascertain that base jumping and nude sunbathing are not radically different for you, but coding web sites is? J/k. Where’s the app? Let’s have the big reveal.
On Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 11:54:pm
The first two things I learned when I moved from the sticks in Maryland to Alexandria, Virginia:
1. The front bushes are no longer considered outdoor urinals
2. Nude sunbathing in the backyard really upsets neighbors.
Check out my weekend project: http://jabberpop.com
On Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 11:59:am
Well i did develop my new weblog in 3 days and it came out really well, you can check it out http://www.geekway.org/
On Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 12:38:pm
@Skywalker: Nice job! The blog looks great and I love your illustrated logo.
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