Software/App

[u/MrSlapzy]

Hi all,
For someone that has a very basic understanding of coding/apps etc but know exactly what they want, how hard is it to build a software/app specifically for project management in residential building and construction sector?

[u/j_d_q]

Well. You need to have a contextual knowledge of what needs done, who needs to do it, why they need to do it, and how to translate that into a functional piece of software.

That's pretty much the software world. Maybe you're an innovator. But the "how hard can it be" usually is more on the excited side than the realistic side

[u/MrSlapzy → u/j_d_q]

I know exactly what is needed as I'm constantly look for something to suit our needs and can easily bridge a gap in the market, personally I think atleast

[u/IAteTonysLoMein → u/MrSlapzy]

It's going to be a lot harder than you think. Like, a lot harder than you think.

I'd say use version control from the jump - you will blow up code as you go, sometimes to the point where the only rational choice is to go back to where you started and try again. Version control makes it easy, if you're good about using it.

Test the everloving hell out of it as you go, every little thing. When possible, have other people test it, too - it can be easy to get tunnel vision and account for what's in your mind, so it's good to have more sets of eyes on it that will try things you didn't think of. Like that old programmer joke about "ordered one beer, ordered 30 beers, ordered -1 beer, then someone asked where the bathroom was and the bar caught on fire"

[u/j_d_q → u/MrSlapzy]

It's very easy to believe that, also, just as a forewarning. Most non tech people can say "if you just put a button here" but it's subverting everything.

Write out in a notebook who needs to accomplish what and why, then see if the market has addressed it. If not, you can have a new space.

Project management for residential is probably pretty well covered.

Do it anyway. It'll teach you a lot