Prototypes
Tools (and processes) have evolved such that we can have working applications available to the world within an hour, and can test ideas with working software within hours and days. "Software" spent years playing the part of the brittle and ornery partner; it's finally becoming a little more "soft".
To pull this off takes a combination of the right tools and the right software development practices. State-of-the-art tools like cloud deployments, Rails, Javascript, and some home-grown ones like Csster, remove the roadblocks to delivering software quickly. Couple this with agile development practices that help divine the best features to implement next, and you can move quickly.
Quick Projects
We developed this visualization to clarify Git's complexities. We built it while learning Git, and many others use it as well. This required gathering the data and has had several iterations since the initial prototype. The initial version took just a couple hours. After positive feedback we devoted time to fleshing out the text and responding to user requests.
A one-day project, LinkedIn Timeline, Andy scratched an itch of many years to build time lines. This project involved learning the basics of their API, solving a few design problems, and implementing a working version. We built up a list of problems along the way, and this addresses some of them... many were left for another day.
Andy built the first prototype of CarbonFive's Story Mapper and contributed to ongoing development and project management. (The link requires Pivotal Tracker login). This was a couple hours devoted to a "spike" implementation, which convinced the team to devote more resources to the project. Intial prototype approx 2 hours
UX Spoke addresses common software usability questions. As you develop or refine a software product, it's easy to get stuck in a rut, running user tests that aren't that helpful or focusing too much on Google Analytics. A tool that worked well may no longer be the right tool for the new questions you have now. The UX/Spoke tool is designed to help you explore many of the different tools in common practice. Approx 3 days, mixed with learning several new technologies
A quick chart of the programming languages Andy has used. Created to demonstrate concise CSS and Javascript style. Approx 1 hour
Agile Processes is a quick visualization to understand the differences between "agile", XP, scrum, etc. Approx 1 day
Difftionary — Online dictionary of distinctions. Site concept.
Longer Projects
Over a six-month period, Andy led the initial development of Aardvark, in collaboration with the Aardvark team, building a prototype that evolved into the core engine.
On Bedsider, Andy spent a month building an in-depth prototype of a new application, the BootyLog, including visualizations and database-backed functionality.
&what; is a programmer utility to discover various character entities. This is a prototype to utilize features of HTML5, as well as provide some utility. Initial version took just a couple hours, and the current implementation has been iterated on many times.
Chklistr — Find, use and share all sorts of checklists. Site concept.