From Idea to App - Laying the Foundation

Defining the Purpose

The purpose of this app is simple: to help users organise their tasks in as few steps as possible. By prioritising ease of use and functionality, we aim to create a tool that simplifies task management, rather than complicating it.

Our Goal

The ultimate aim is to build an app that meets user needs while staying adaptable through feedback. Achieving this requires releasing a minimum viable product (MVP) as quickly as possible. The MVP will focus only on the most essential features, ensuring we can gather valuable insights early in the development process.

Iterative Development for Efficiency

Many startups make the mistake of trying to perfect the product internally before release. As we discussed in previous posts, only feedback can make a product perfect. To gather feedback early and often, the project needs to split into chunks strategically in a way that new parts can be showcased without being blocked by others.

To provide an example from the app we are building, we won't wait for backend elements like servers and database to be set up before building the user interface. Instead, we'll use "fake" hardcoded data to simulate functionality and demonstrate how the app works. To streamline this even further, we'll skip routing for the first iteration and show static screens using Storybook — a tool for building and testing UI components in isolation.

In summary, show how the feature will look like in the fastest and most efficient way possible, and only implement it deeper once approved.

The order is as follows:

1. design wireframe
2. design candidate
3. design ready for development
4. develop in storybook with fake data
5. implement the feature in backend
6. integrate frontend with real data

Features in Focus

1. Task Management: Creating, updating, and deleting tasks.
2. User Authentication: A basic system to log in, sign up, and manage passwords.

By concentrating on these core functionalities, we can minimise complexity while maximising impact.

Tools and Workflow

To stay organised and efficient, we'll be using:

• ClickUp: For task management and documentation.
• Figma: For wireframing and design.
• Web Browsers: As our initial platform, ensuring accessibility and simplicity.

Wherever possible, we'll break tasks into parallel workflows. This allows the design and development teams to progress simultaneously without bottlenecks.

Key Components

• Task:
  • The core component of the app, representing an objective for the user to complete
  • Properties:
  • name: the title of the task
  • is completed: status flag indicating completion
• App States:
  • Authenticated Users: Features include CRUD operations for tasks, sign-out.
  • Unauthenticated Users: Features include sign-up, sign-in, password reset.

Creating the Wireframe

Wireframes act as the blueprint for the app, defining its structure and flow. To prioritise feedback, we'll begin with the essential elements:

• displaying tasks
• adding tasks
• editing task properties (is completed, name)
• deleting tasks

Project Management

The product team will start sketching raw wireframes, while the development team works on setting up the codebase using mock data. This parallel workflow accelerates progress without waiting for final designs.

To keep the project on track, we've outlined clear workflows:

Product Team Tasks

1. Sketch wireframes for authenticated screens.
2. Develop a design system, including:
   • Colour palettes, typography, and spacing.
   • Components like buttons and input fields.

Development Team Tasks

1. Initialise monorepo
   1. Set up a monorepo codebase
   2. Create React app to create initial components

Each task will go through the flow of stages from "To Do" to "Done", and we will demonstrate this in the upcoming posts.

Next Steps

We've defined the app's purpose, outlined its core elements, and established a timeline for design and development to begin work.

While the initial wireframe is being created by the design team, the development team can set up the codebase to implement the components once the wireframe is complete.

The wireframe will help identify the design components needed and their role in achieving the app's purpose. It will also inspire ideas for the app's theme, including colours and typography. Once the design system is finalised, it can be implemented in code. During this process, the design team can refine the wireframe elements using the agreed design system.