Visio for Developing (PHP) Software Applications

[krazyjosh5]

Does anyone here use Visio to develop larger scale software projects?

I'm working on a pretty big project now and I'm trying to figure out the best way to map it and get it out on paper some how.

If it helps, I'm working on a PHP application with multiple paths, external databases (scraping) and internal databases (MySQL). Recommendations?

 

[DaveEMG]

Well, I use OpenOffice Draw, but yes, flowcharting your data design is very important for a large-scale application. Hell, it can be useful for small scale stuff!

Doing the actual logic flows requires some patience, but I guarantee that it pays off in the end; especially if you have other people working on the project (even if they're just oversight / clients).. The most important thing to remember is to map the dependencies, such as parent | child or dependent relationships (ie... cannot do X until Y is done). That makes it the most useful.

Good luck, feel free to email me if you want some more specific help.

 

[mpz]

Yes. Anything that helps you visualize complex systems helps.

 

[krazyjosh5]

Yes. Anything that helps you visualize complex systems helps.

Just like your post.

Thanks for that.

 

[nickycakes]

get yourself a legal pad and a pen. quick and easy, and you can look at it while coding without alt+tabbing

 

[smap]

I've used Visio and tried a few other DB design tools ... pad and paper still works best for me. The only time Visio really helps me is if I'm reverse-engineering something someone else wrote in a really complex way.

I've gone back and forth on how much analysis should be done beforehand. Now I'm pretty much in the mimimalistic camp. I think at lot of times the problem presents itself as you're developing and your understanding of it changes as well.

If you're lucky enough to know any of the new RAD-type of systems like Ruby On Rails you can kind of design as you develop.

EDIT: If you're stuck with how to map it out on paper - you can read up on ERD diagrams for your data. For control flow I'm not sure what kind of structured methods are available.