Custom Software DIY Essentials
We realize that after reading our white paper “Crush Your Competitors with Custom Software” some readers might be so enthusiastic about the benefits of tailor-made software that they’d like to take a do-it-yourself approach.
We say, go for it! Aside from training, experience, software engineering know-how, office space, computer hardware, software applications, and a multidisciplinary team, you hardly need anything at all to write great custom software.
To help you get going on your exciting new project, we’ve prepared a short list of DIY essentials:
- Grit and determination. You’re going to need stamina because developing great software is hard work, even for an experienced firm. For a DIYer, the project will be even more taxing because it will likely be an open-ended affair with lots of twists, turns, and dead-ends. But if you keep your chin up, you might be able to beat the odds. At the very least, you’ll have a good time, learn a bit about custom software development, and meet some nice people.
- Comfort food. DIYing can be stressful, especially if you have people looking over your shoulder (breathing down your neck?), asking when they can try the software. Stock up with chips, candy, pizza, sugar cereal, popcorn, coffee, pop, exotic crackers—whatever helps you bear up under the strain. And when anxious stakeholders come a-calling, you’ll always have something to offer them…before getting to any bad news about the project.
- Up-to-date resume. Be aware that if your DIY custom software project goes south, you might suddenly find yourself out of a job so polish up your resume and keep it in a state of readiness.
- Valid passport. If your DIY custom software project really goes south—think Titanic—you might need to leave town in a hurry. We hear that Argentina is nice this time of year…
- Last will and testament. Be sure to draw up a will before starting your DIY custom software project. This is just a precaution—in case you bang your head against the wall once too often. (Don’t laugh, it happens from time to time.) As they say, hope for the best but plan for the worst.
Good luck, DIYers. We admire your passion for software—it’s something we have in common.
However, if the DIY option doesn’t work out for you, feel free to give us a call. We’d love to help translate your innovative ideas into great custom software that works.
If want to learn more about how we develop software, read our white paper “Agile Software Development: A Smart Choice for Outsourced Projects”.