Ask HN: What do you use to organize your thoughts for a new website or project?

im in a similar situation at the moment. My friend and I are taking a very low-tech approach. A few beers, pad of A4 paper and a couple of pens seems to do us very well.

We model UIs, entity-relationship's and use cases all free hand. I think it's a lot quicker than using something like visio, etc to mock-up ideas.

For organizing ideas, a very large pad of paper and a delta elite triangle grip ballpoint pen(1).

If it gets to a lot of words, back to the computer I go.

(1)I know the pen is over-specified, but I find writing with most pens/pencils so unpleasant that I even type and print single envelopes to avoid it. The delta (that specific one, not any) makes writing tolerable for me--I carry one in my pocket and use it even to sign receipts.

Understandable. I almost exclusively use Papermate felt-tip pens, with occasional disposable fountain pens. These require less pressure to write with, and are thus easier on the wrist.

Yeah, it's a little tiny minor thing, but it makes a difference...

Instead of large sheets of flimsy paper, we are using 4x6 note cards, binder clips, and pencils. At first, the small cards seem like a problem, but they work well because they force you to break your ideas into meaningful chunks.

Make a mistake? Chuck a card. Missed something? Insert a card. Need to reorganize? Lay them all out on a floor and shuffle as necessary.

I'll never go back to notebooks or pads (or pens) again.

I'm the same. I'm a bit of a noob with web dev, but I've recently started work on my second medium-sized web project. Since doing my first one, I've learned a bit about database normalisation, but in some ways it proved a stumbling block: I couldn't get started until I'd made some database tables, but now I knew I should design the database first, yet trying to get everything down in Notepad seemed too much trouble.

When I tried writing each table out on a post-it-note, it was so much easier - even enjoyable - to come up with a normalised schema.

I wonder if/when computer technology will advance to the point where it's as flexible and disposible as pen and paper?

Not sure if it will help, but one tool I use at concept stage is FreeMind. I like it for forming a structure to a site.

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Totally agree with KWD. Freemind is the first app I open before starting anything new (project/proposal/article etc). I love mind mapping, Freemind's keyboard controls mean you can quickly produce a complex map without ever having to touch the mouse. Love it.

Another very powerful option is Xmind:

http://www.xmind.net/

I went to Lowes and picked up two pieces of melamine whiteboard (3'x4') for $9/each, some mirror hangers (another $2), and drywall anchors ($1). My home office now has a rather huge, expandable whiteboard for under $25.

I then 'persist' the ideas to a wiki once they're fleshed out.

I'm currently on my second project and for both (and everything else) I use two tools:

Xmind Mind Mapping: I paid like 120 bucks for it, now they decided to open source it (that I did not like much, but now you can get it for free!) Their software is amazing. http://www.xmind.net/

MacJournal: Quick notes, texts, transcripts, voice notes, video notes, etc I have in there. They have full screen writing which is amazing. http://www.marinersoftware.com/sitepage.php?page=85

First stage UIs: Balsamiq. http://www.balsamiq.com/

Final UIs and documentation: Axure Pro (Windows only :( ) (VMWare anyone :) ) http://www.axure.com/

Creating manuals, customer support and FAQ: ScreenSteps. (I cannot recommend this software enough! AMAZING) http://www.bluemangolearning.com/screensteps/

Project Management: Merlin. Fantastic software. http://www.projectwizards.net/en/

Sales and CRM: Daylite. Just started using it. Very powerful, but the learning curve is steep. http://marketcircle.com/

Remote team work: Basecamp and Campfire. www.37signals.com

If everything else fails: a pen and paper :)

Hope this helps

I think you can try ForeUI (http://www.foreui.com), it can create runnable UIs like Axure, and it can run under Windows, Mac, Linux and Solaris.

I like to use mindmaps for planning and concept work like this.

Freemind is a good open source mindmap editor for the desktop.

Or you could try my online, browser-based mindmap app. http://thoughtmuse.com ;)

I make lots of notes in Tomboy (http://projects.gnome.org/tomboy/features.html) - which is a personal wiki/notetaking desktop app, primarily for Gnome, but has an official Windows port and alpha web sync. It can also be synched to a local folder (I sync to my Dropbox), to a webDav or a SHH destination.

I find it really handy.

balsamiq is great for ui mockup. Other than that I agree with habs, paper works. Although i have recently started using Microsoft One Note 2007. It makes for great brainstorming / idea throwing / white boarding.

I'd second onenote for multiple user whiteboarding and brainstorming. It's a great program designed for this purpose, for quickly jotting down your thoughts. Also it has handwriting recognition if you're a table user.

Personally I use Google Sites' wiki for single-person brainstorming because I can access it anywhere. Also Google Sites supports secure https and true 'private' sites.

Paper, pen, napkins, the voice recorder on my phone, Google docs, my friend's listening ears, long walks and taking a shower.

Point being, don't fall into the trap of trying to get your info to live in one, unified, perfect system right from the start. Chaos is ok, just work in whatever format your brain needs you to at the moment and focus on reigning it in at a later date.

Blank sheets of paper and a pencil.

Also, my brain. Seriously though, for big projects I literally dedicate a lot of time to just thinking through things until I have it well organized and in my head.

Basecamp + glass floor to ceiling windows and dry erase markers.

I'm in the same situation and after experimenting with various tools (basecamp, evernote, things, and more) I'm now down to two major tools:

  - a whiteboard at home
  - a wiki (simple install of dokuwiki)

The whiteboard is for brainstorming and sketching stuff out and for when I need some kind of physical feedback to my thoughts getting laid out.

The wiki is for laying out basic designs, taking notes and logging my development progress. Also for keeping track of a schedule I've set up along with milestones to hit. It's a simple tool, yet very versatile because of the ability to easily create new, linked pages.

Some secondary tools, used sometimes: google calendar, voice recordings on my iphone (for when I'm driving), etc.

If you would like a tool to manage your small business activities and Projects, you can use this web aplication:

http://www.Gtdagenda.com

You can use it to manage and prioritize your Goals (for business but also in other areas of your life), Projects and Tasks. It has a Checklists section, for the routines and repetitive activities that any business has to do. Also, it features a Schedules section and a Calendar, for scheduling you time and activities.

Some features from GTD are also present, like Contexts and Next Actions.

And it’s available on the mobile phone too, so you can access it from anywhere.

My bread and butter is a legal pad and pen. I'll mock-up designs, doodle possible logos (I know, superficial, but it's fun), write pseudocode, and tinker with the database schema.

Most pages get forgotten, but the act of working through the problems on paper helps to solidify the thoughts and designs in my mind (much like how they say that writing notes while studying will improve your overall retention).

Then the whiteboard for the quick stuff (like little notes I need to remember for the next few minute, but wouldn't).

Every few years I buy a pile of legal pads - cheaper in bulk :)

11"x14" artist sketchbook and a pencil to play with the idea

long walks / showers to help focus

dead simple

Redmine. The basic pattern is usually starting with a wiki, jotting down notes, collecting links, brainstorming and dumping information I get from research or talking to people, then start opening tickets as todos start to come up, then add people to the project as needed. I do this or something like this for most tech and non-tech projects. I do have a couple moleskines, but I find using paper to be more cumbersome. Sometimes I'll use them for UI sketches. Whiteboards are great, too.

A common theme here (which I agree with) is to use paper (whiteboard, sketch book). Paper allows two-dimensional organization of text, whereas computers force text to be one-dimensional. This linearity, which allows only two branches on a single idea, is too constraining for my creative thinking, during which two ideas branching out from a single original idea. You can of course use lines to implement two dimensions in plaintext, but I find this clumsy.

I setup a new Trac instance. The wiki is great for documentation, journals and design details and it integrates with the source repository using svn, git or hg

I created a new project on Github which I use solely for the wiki. I use it to jot down ideas, take notes, etc. I've found it a great way to keep organized.

My first order of business is to come up with a pretty good draft of my data model. I use OmniGraffle, but you can use any data modeling tool. Once I have a solid understanding of my data model, I generate a scaffolding.

Once I can see the data, interact with it, and tweak it to my heart's content. Then I turn to tools like Balsamiq, or just a large pad and pen to generate the views.

I am in a similar stage....

I first started writing my thoughts in a paper notebook. But then i realized, I can't read my handwriting!

I did research for software both online/offline that has the power/flexibility and ease of use.

I settled on 2: basecamp and Zoho Projects.

After trying both out... I am going w/ Zoho Projects.

And you are right, its paranoia on your part about online tools and not based on facts.

Why would anyone go after you and only you?

For simple things I use Efigio Organizer: http://www.efigioorganizer.com But for a project like yours I would suggest that you use a project management software. One recommendation is RationalPlan: http://www.rationalplan.com

Stuff To Do: http://stufftodo.dedasys.com/ - it's got markdown syntax, and I can rearrange the list of things to do quickly and easily. It probably doesn't scale up to having huge amounts of notes and things you want to show connecting and so on, but I like it for quick notes.

Uh, he asked what people use, and that's what I use.

emacs org-mode

A lot of blank sheets of paper and a sharpie. I keep them in a manila folder to look at later, but usually there's only one or two important pages that are worth keeping because the ideas change a lot as I write.

Use what comes natural and helps get your thoughts out as fast as possible.

If it's just me I do it on the computer. I use Balsamiq for screen mockups, Microsoft Word to write a spec (sometimes just a bullet-point feature list) and Microsoft Project to build a timeline.

If it's a collaborative effort we use a whiteboard and take pictures.

An absolutely enormous whiteboard- we just rewrite the basic bullet points over and over, then when we have it down to three or so main points we sketch out the layout and the major components we'll need to build. Then we dive into the coding :)

While I agree with the pen, paper, and whiteboard crowd, I also do most of it in my head.

If the idea is too complex to hold its basic design in my mind, or I am not passionate enough about it to put in the thoughts, then it isn't worth the trouble anyway.

Pivotal tracker for every possible feature or chore related to the site. Omnigraffle + some wireframe templates for mockups. Then a paper moleskin for jotting down thoughts or drawing (sometimes pen and paper is better than all else)

I've been playing with EverNote now (first project) and it seems to be working pretty well - scan in (or photograph) sketches, type out notes, whatever, and it keeps everything together, organized by category, searchable, etc.

I use freemind (mindmap) , to a person used to think logical (programers?) mindmaps are a great way to collect,associate brainstorming generated materials

A good lab/composition notebook and a Pigma Micron pen. Sharing is a bit difficult, but it can't be beat for flexibility.

+1 for xmind > freemind. Evernote may also be a good choice if you need to collaborate online more securely/privately

I have a yellow legal pad and a pen on my desk. It's kind of neat to see that it's already down to about 10 sheets left.

I have a pretty good memory. Also, I have a whiteboard in my bedroom.

a huge whiteboard with plenty of high quality different colored markers.

Pen on paper. And a spliff helps.

Create folder "newIdea"

Notepad2 -> todo.txt