The One Woman Web Team

Katherine DruckmanWebmistress, Linux Journal

WIOS - SCaLE 8xFeb 19th, 2010

Going it alone

● Open Source project page● Or maybe you're just a masochist

● Regional event site

You want this:

Assembling Your Team

● Graphic designer● Front-end

developer/UX● Programmer● Sys admin

YOU

Wait... What??

Photo by po go re lo va

This is what we have, and this is what we're going to win with.

-My husband (and the Israeli Military)

Assemble your gear for the steep climb ahead

Decide on the platform that is right for your project:

Plan of Attack● Identify your primary

goals● User-centric● Content-driven● Selling something?

What?● Inform? Entertain?

● Prioritize!● Define your most

important features● How to achieve these

with given resources● Weigh design,

performance, usability

Getting organized

● Version control!!!● Git, Suvbersion, Bazaar (whichever makes you

happy. Just please use something.)

a.k.a Do as I say, not as I do

● Time-tracking - get help with what's dragging you down

● Set a realistic timeline (and try to actually stick to it)

Identify Strengths and Weaknesses● Is ok to not be perfect.● Give weight to those tasks you enjoy spending

time on.● There could be many ways of achieving your

desired result – use the path of least resistance● [disclaimer: I am going to get in trouble for this]

You don't always have time for best practices

Help!!!

You've identified your weak spots, now what?

Find help● Local User Groups● Regional Events● Online Forums● IRC

As a woman, should I seek out women-centric resources for help?

Resources

● Drupalchix - http://groups.drupal.org/drupalchix● PHPWomen - http://www.phpwomen.org/● .51 - http://dotfiveone.com/● Women Who Tech - http://www.womenwhotech.com/

How To Ask For Help● Be respectful of others' time.● Don't ask for a fish. Ask where the poles are.

Your problem is probably not unique, and the answer is probably written somewhere.

● Just as you receive help, help others. There will always be someone who knows less than you.

Pitfalls to Avoid

● Featuritis! (We can be just like Facebook!)

l

This is SO temping, I know

Photo by bookgrl

But you probably just need:

Pitfalls to Avoid● Featuritis!● Design by committee● Failure to prioritize● Forgetting your users

Multi-disciplinary approach● Ergonomics● Interior Design

Photo by: annahape-gallery

Multi-disciplinary approach● Ergonomics● Interior Design● Psychology

Multi-disciplinary approach● Ergonomics/design● Psychology● Engineering● Social Science

Encourage women of all backgrounds. Recruit from different fields.

Diversity should be a means to an end, not the end itself.

Katherine Druckman

@KatherineD

LinuxJournal.com

KatherineDruckman.com