what do you use to create your thoughts on real?

[ChaiRuiPeng]

hi i am just thinking what things you use to plan and draft any complicated software that needs maybe a few weeks planning?

edit: how do i allow more than 1 option?

[Radikalizm]

With smaller projects some UML software can do the trick, but I get a better understanding and a better grasp of bigger projects and concepts when I just use pen and paper

Kind of makes it all stick better

[xDan]

I use an A4 lined notepad mostly... for scrawling thoughts, psuedocode of more complex algorithms, initial description of classes/methods.

and lately my more solid design consists of creating an interface (IWhatever, as in Irrlicht), then making use of this interface in my project. Then only when I'm happy with how it can be used I'll fill in the implementation.

I do think UML can give a nice overview of how all systems interact, but still usually I find it easier+simpler to open my A3 notepad...

While a new iteration of the design requires a complete rewrite, it is useful to have the previous versions to refer to.

[ChaiRuiPeng]

i have a little purse i carry around with me everywhere
it has small yellow legal notepad
pens pencils
graphing calculator (example: caulculating worst case senarios of searching algorithm)
small clipboard

[MarcoTMP]

I use: Paper, Whiteboards, Notes, Drawing, ...

And some BDD (Behavior Driven Development) tools:
- Gherkin for the features and all game states/transitions (Scenarios/Steps)
- Then a Test Unit Framework to convert features written in Gherkin into automatic tests.

[Virion]

i use paper, whiteboard and sticky notes too

[ChaiRuiPeng]

yeh


i forgot to say i use whiteboard and sticky notes too

i like things i can feel and hold not really to excited for things like computer UML models or visual studio...

[XXChester]

I mostly use a white board but I also use pencil and paper. I like the white board because if you ever get lost about where you are going with something I just look to my right and I have the whole application mapped out there.

[viejodani]

I write ideas in notepads mostly. brainstorming is the method I used to develop software and games before beginning design, and during development, notes help me a lot to thing outside the box and I draw sometimes to give me a better idea of the problem or a method I should use to make things work.

I don't use UML much, except when I have to rely on many classes and components.