How to start your first project from scratch for absolute beginners.

At some point, we were all beginners, trying to figure out how to build a well-structured project. No one is born knowing the right steps; we all learn by following the paths laid out by others. Some developers were fortunate enough to discover better approaches or add new steps to existing ones.

For some of us, this project is our first, while for others, it’s not. Regardless, we’ve done our best to walk through each step as though we are all absolute beginners. We aim to create a high-quality reference that will be useful for all of us in future projects. Let’s dive into the steps we took.

Project Idea

Every project begins with a desire to bring an idea to life. Do you have an idea in mind, or are you just eager to create a project? If you’re looking for inspiration, start by researching existing ideas and brainstorming how they were developed into web or mobile apps. But if you already have an idea you’re passionate about, what should you do next?

First, understand that your idea is valuable, but it’s possible that someone else has thought of it before and even brought it to life. So, the first step is to research your idea. Does something similar already exist, or is your concept completely new? Depending on what you find, there are two paths you can take.

If your idea already exists in the form of a website or app, don’t be discouraged. Instead, study the existing product closely. Does it fully meet the goals you had in mind? If not, that’s your opportunity. You can start by adding the missing features or enhancing the existing ones. Even if the existing product meets your goals, you can still create your version by brainstorming how to improve it. Consider what the current product lacks, how you can make it more user-friendly, and what new features you can introduce. By dedicating time to these considerations, you can create something unique and valuable.

In our case, we found that our main idea had already been developed. So, we brainstormed ways to improve it by asking ourselves these same questions. We decided to expand the target audience, add more features to increase user engagement, and refine certain processes to better align with our vision. We also carefully selected the technologies that would help us enhance the app.

Targeting users

Identifying your target audience is a crucial step before starting the application development process. An excellent application without users is a waste of effort, time, and resources. By following a structured approach, you can effectively select the right users for your application.

First, clarify the purpose of your application by answering key questions: What should users gain from the app? What service does the app offer, and can it be found elsewhere? Answering these questions will solidify the app’s idea and purpose.

Once the purpose is clear, you can identify your target audience by listing all potential users who might benefit from your service. For example, if your app is “HealthyDeliver,” which delivers healthy food to doorsteps, potential users might include athletes, elders, vegetarians, vegans, and fitness enthusiasts.

After creating this list, analyze the specific needs, behaviors, and preferences of each user group. For “HealthyDeliver,” athletes might need high-protein meals, while elders may prefer nutritionally balanced, easy-to-digest options. By categorizing users into distinct groups, you can tailor the app’s features and user experience to meet their specific demands.

The final step is to design targeted marketing campaigns for each user group. For athletes, focus on the benefits of protein-rich meals. For elders, emphasize the convenience and health benefits of senior-friendly meals. These tailored campaigns ensure that each user group feels the app was designed with their needs in mind, laying a solid foundation for the app’s success.

User Stories

A user story is a simple, clear statement about what a user wants to do with your project. It’s not just about a feature, but about the user’s goal and why they need it. User stories help keep the focus on creating something useful for the user.

You might be asking, why bother writing user stories instead of just discussing features? Let’s explore why it’s crucial:

1. Focus on User Needs: Writing from the user’s perspective ensures your team stays aligned with what truly matters — the user’s needs.
2. Better Planning: User stories help you estimate the time and effort required for tasks, aiding in accurate planning and communication with stakeholders.
3. Build Empathy: They foster a deeper understanding among team members, users, and managers, helping everyone appreciate each other’s needs and challenges.
4. Refine Your Ideas: Writing user stories helps identify potential issues early, allowing you to refine features and deliver the best possible user experience.

How to Write a User Story

Ready to start writing user stories? Here’s a simple process to follow:

1. Know Your Users: Identify who your users are and what they want to accomplish with your project.
2. Identify Features: Determine the features you will implement, and think about how users will interact with them.
3. Use a Simple Formula: Structure your user stories using this formula:

As a [Persona], I want to [do something], so that [reason].

Example User Stories

Let’s say you’re implementing an authentication system in your application, which includes signup, login, logout, and password resetting. Here are some example user stories:

1. As a user, I want to be able to sign up, so that I can use the service.
2. As a user, I want to be able to log in, so that I can access my account.
3. As a user, I want to be able to log out, so that I can secure my account when I’m done.
4. As a user, I don’t want to log in frequently, so that I can save time and avoid entering my credentials too often.
5. As a user, I want my credentials to be secure, so that I feel safe using the application.
6. As a user, I want to be able to reset my password if I forget it, so that I don’t lose access to my account.

Expanding Beyond Authentication

User stories aren’t just for authentication systems. For instance, if your application includes a search function, you might write:

• As a user, I want to be able to filter search results by price, so that I can easily find products within my budget.
• As a user, I want to sort search results by popularity, so that I can see what others are choosing.

By writing user stories for all your features, you can visualize the user experience from start to finish and continuously refine it to improve satisfaction.

Conclusion: User stories are more than just a planning tool, they’re a way to ensure your project truly meets the needs of its users. By putting yourself in the user’s shoes, you can create a product that not only functions well but also provides a satisfying experience.

Selecting The Features

When building an app, choosing the right features is key. Here’s a simple guide to help you pick the features that will make your app successful.

1. Define Your Core Value Proposition

Think about what makes your app unique. What’s the one thing your app does better than others? This unique feature should guide all your decisions. Choose features that support this core idea and make your app stand out.

2. Start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

Begin with a simple version of your app that includes only the most important features. This is called a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). It lets you test your ideas, get feedback from users, and improve the app based on what you learn.

3. Prioritize Features Using the MoSCoW Method

The MoSCoW method helps you decide which features to work on first:

• Must-Have: Features your app absolutely needs to function.

• Should-Have: Important features that add value but aren’t critical.

• Could-Have: Nice features that improve the user experience but aren’t essential.

• Won’t-Have (for now): Features that you can’t include right now but might add in the future.

4. Consider Technical Feasibility and Constraints

Finally, think about what’s possible from a technical point of view. Some features might be too complex or expensive to build right now.

Technology

Choosing the right programming language and framework is a critical step in any project, as it influences development speed, overall performance, and scalability. The journey to making these choices begins with understanding the unique needs of the project.

Languages and Frameworks

The first task is deciding on the primary programming language. Consider the team’s expertise — whether everyone is skilled in a single language or if there is a need to explore new options. If a common language is already familiar to the team, it should be evaluated to ensure it meets performance needs without introducing unnecessary difficulties.

In cases where the team isn’t aligned on a single language, the focus should shift to identifying a language that offers the required performance while being accessible to all members. This might involve researching various languages and consulting additional resources to make an informed choice.

Once the primary language is selected, its ecosystem must be examined. This includes determining whether the language offers built-in frameworks or if external frameworks are needed. Understanding the available frameworks and their dependencies/packages is essential to ensure alignment with the project’s goals and the team’s capabilities.

User Interface

Creating an intuitive and adaptable user interface (UI) is another crucial part of the process. It involves exploring various UI libraries, each offering different levels of customization and ease of use. The goal is to design a modern, clean interface that meets the needs of all users, including those with different visual abilities. Striking the right balance between aesthetics and accessibility is key.

Back-End Technology

On the back end, the challenge lies in finding a framework that can handle the complexity of operations while scaling with the project’s growth. The focus should be on frameworks that simplify code organization and maintenance. Security is paramount, so it’s important to choose options with strong authentication and authorization features, supported by an active community.

Database

Selecting the right database is another significant step. Options for handling structured data with complex queries should be explored, which might involve traditional relational databases. At the same time, managing unstructured or flexible data may require considering NoSQL databases. Each database type has its strengths, and the goal is to find a solution that can adapt to the project’s evolving data requirements.

Third-Party Services

Finally, reliable and scalable third-party services for deployment and communication are vital. This involves exploring various platforms and cloud services, each with its strengths and challenges. Ensuring that these services integrate smoothly into the project is crucial for efficiently handling tasks like email and messaging.

Over all

Selecting the right programming language, framework, and supporting technologies is foundational to the success of any project. This process involves careful evaluation of the team’s expertise, project requirements, and the strengths of different tools. Crafting a user-friendly interface, securing the back-end, choosing the right database, and integrating reliable third-party services are all key steps that contribute to building a scalable, efficient, and accessible application. By thoughtfully considering each aspect, it’s possible to lay a strong foundation that supports both current needs and future growth.

Web Architecture

The first thing to understand is just how important your web architecture (web arch) is. If you grasp the flow and design a strong, clear architecture from the start, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble down the line. Why? Because you’ll have a solid idea of which technologies to use, what rules to follow, and which steps are essential to secure your app.

Once you understand the requirements, the next step is to dive into the layers of the web app. A good web arch is typically divided into several layers, each handling a different part of the app. The three essential layers in almost every web app are the presentation layer, application layer, and data layer.

So, what are these layers and why are they so important?

• Presentation Layer: This is the front-end part of your app where users interact with it. If this layer is well-designed, users will find your app easy and enjoyable to use. Think of it as the storefront — it’s the first impression users get.
• Application Layer (Business Logic): This is the brain of your web app, where all the business logic is processed. It ensures everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, like the shopkeeper making sure all transactions are handled correctly.
• Data Layer: This layer interacts with the database and handles data storage. Without it, you couldn’t store any information or remember anything about your users or their activities. It’s like the storage room where all your products (data) are kept safe and ready for use.

Understanding these layers is key to building a strong foundation for your web app. Start by carefully planning each layer, making sure they work together seamlessly. This early planning will make your app more efficient, easier to maintain, and ready to grow as your user base expands.

As your app grows, so will the number of users and the amount of data you’ll need to manage. To keep things running smoothly, it’s crucial to build your architecture in a way that can grow alongside your app. Think of load balancing as opening up more checkout lanes at a busy store — by spreading traffic across multiple servers, you avoid bottlenecks and keep things moving quickly.

Caching is another handy tool. Imagine having your most-used items right in a drawer next to you, instead of having to go down to the basement every time you need something. Caching stores frequently accessed data in a place where it can be retrieved quickly, reducing the load on your database and speeding up response times for your users.

As your app becomes more complex, microservices might be worth considering too. Rather than building one big, complicated system, you can break it down into smaller, independent services, each doing one thing really well. This makes your app easier to build, test, and scale.

By implementing load balancing, caching, and possibly adopting a microservices architecture, you’re setting up a system that not only supports growth but thrives on it. You’re not just preparing for today’s needs — you’re ready for whatever the future brings.

Now that you understand the importance of each layer and how critical the web architecture is, you’re equipped to make your app scalable and maintainable. Whether you’re just starting out or refining an existing project, these strategies will help you build something that can grow with your users.

Project Structure

After planning your web architecture, it’s time to structure your project. Here’s how to approach it:

1. Organize Your Codebase: Create a clear and logical folder structure that separates concerns. For example, keep front-end, back-end, and database files in distinct directories.
2. Modularize Your Code: Break down your application into smaller, reusable modules. This makes it easier to manage and scale as your project grows.
3. Implement Version Control: Use tools like Git to track changes, collaborate with others, and revert to previous versions if needed.
4. Documentation: Maintain clear and concise documentation throughout the project. It helps in onboarding new team members and ensures that everyone is aligned with the project’s goals.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating a structured, maintainable, and successful project. Remember, every expert was once a beginner, and the key to success is continuous learning and improvement.

Conclusion: Final thoughts

Creating an app is much more than just building a system; it will be a transformative journey filled with learning, discovery, and ongoing refinement. From the beginning, your success will hinge on truly understanding the people you aim to serve. You won’t merely identify a need; you’ll immerse yourself in the lives of your potential users, exploring their daily challenges and aspirations. This deep dive will allow you to make well-informed decisions throughout the development process.

As you brainstorm features, focus on creating a user-friendly experience. Each feature shouldn’t just be a cool idea; it should be a solution to a specific problem or an enhancement to existing functionality. Take the time to debate, refine, and ensure that every addition provides real value to your users. Your goal should be clear: to make a meaningful difference in their lives.

Crafting user stories will be a critical step that helps you maintain a user-centered perspective. By stepping into the shoes of your users, you can anticipate how they will interact with the app and what they will need. These stories go beyond just functionality — they help you understand how different users might feel and think as they navigate your app.

Choosing the right technology will be the final piece of the puzzle. Take your time weighing the pros and cons of various options, considering factors like performance, scalability, and ease of use. Choose technologies that will not only bring your vision to life but also ensure that the app will be reliable, secure, and adaptable as your users’ needs evolve.

As you embark on this journey, remember that creating a great app isn’t just about having a brilliant idea. It’s about deeply understanding your users, making thoughtful decisions, and being willing to iterate based on feedback. This approach will teach you the importance of empathy in design and development — a lesson that will guide you in future projects. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to building an app that truly resonates with users and makes a positive impact on their lives.

Shoutout to my amazing team and teammates, who contributed to this article and were determined to go through the process step by step to make sure they do not skip a point Hüsam, Marwa Ashraf, Mahmoudalshemy, Mahmoud Hamdy, Amirahussein, Rofidasaad, Ahmedmuhammed, Abd-El-Rahman Nasser and Omarelfar. Thank you guys for being a GREAT teammates ❤