How To Plan A Drupal Project

Robert Castelo's picture

Model Method 

  • This tutorial explains how to create a model of a project in greater and greater detail, with the final model becoming a live site.
  • It's writen with the idea that you're developing a project for a client, but if you're developing a site for yourself it's also useful - just think of yourself as the client.

Workflow

It's important for you and the client to have a clear idea of what is happening at each stage

Cargo Cult Development 

  • Avoid cargo cult development
  • Each step should be based on the results of the previous step
  • There should be clear connections between elements in one step and the next
  • Example of what to avoid:
    1) Define Users and goals
    2) Add blogs as a feature - even though it doesn't solve any of the goals in step 1

 

 

Comments

Thanks

Thanks for that very informative tutorial. I've just started playing with Drupal hoping to develop the skills to produce a basic web community. Although i've already started on the site...oh my head hurts.... I really do think following your tutorial and planning the site properly will really help so off i go, to give it a go. Thanks :)

More about planning

Hi Robert, I recently released the first five chapters of my open source online book called Drupal Websites: A Planner's Guide at http://planningdrupalsites.com. It's my way of giving back to the community. It's a beta site in that there is more to come (including a nicer theme). It offers behind-the-scenes activities that can help support the process you describe here.