In my experience with programming projects, I typically start coding directly without any prior design or specifications. The only time I worked on larger projects was at a small startup, where I relied on to-do lists to manage tasks. However, I’ve never tackled projects on the scale of software from companies like Microsoft.
I’m curious whether Microsoft begins software development with small projects and then gradually adds features, or if they always draft and complete their designs first before implementation. It seems like a long process, and I’m eager to start coding sooner rather than later.
Is there a possible compromise where developers outline their specifications for larger systems and then build them iteratively from the ground up? How do large corporations handle this, and what strategies can individuals employ to achieve faster results without losing motivation?
Although I’ve taken a few computer science courses, I’ve struggled to remember the fundamental programming principles, and I haven’t built useful software outside of work. I’m looking to improve on that.