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Ask HN: Pen and paper vs. using an app to brainstorm ideas
After talking to other independent developers who build apps, many of them mentioned that they use pen and paper/iCloud notes over apps and tools, mainly due to easy of use and speed. Which method do you prefer?
- powerbroker 4y agoFor the last 30 years, 90% has been paper, and 10% has been via online notes or whiteboards. I've also led brainstorming sessions among engineering groups.
- DCodes1 4y agoNice! Curious - why paper over an online or digital tool?
- viraptor 4y agoDepends on the context. Planning some task list? Something that uses lines of text or task cards. Infrastructure? Draw.io. I can't say I have a preference - what is easiest to access at the time will do. But never pen and paper - I'll need to share this anyway, so writing it twice seems like a waste of time.
- DCodes1 4y agoWhen brainstorming ideas for personal apps, do you use draw.io as well?
- bosky101 4y agoMy process is Pen & paper Then mock-ups Then high fidelity Before showing to devs so that there is no ambiguity
- DCodes1 4y agoI like this. If you're designing an app, as I'm assuming you're a UX/UI designer (correct me if I'm wrong), and you have ideas, do you write down some of those ideas first, or just start sketching screens?
- GianFabien 4y agoPencil and paper to draw diagrams, sketches, etc. Structured text files to capture thoughts that don't require pictures. I actually have two desks in my office. One with three LCDs and minitower. Another facing a window with no technology, except the phone. Having a context shift helps better support the very different thinking modes.
- DCodes1 4y agoSmart. Keep it simple. What do you use, or what's your method for categorizing ideas for projects? Is that done in text files as well?
- the_only_law 4y agoI’ve been using draw.io to kinda play with and design high level architectures for some of my projects, mostly out of convenience. I don’t really write or draw stuff out by hand because I don’t usually have a writing utensil nearby.
- DCodes1 4y agoWhat makes you use draw.io over other apps like Notion?
- the_only_law 4y agoTo be honest familiarity. I found draw.ok yeah wars ago. I’d be willing to look at other tooLs if they seemed to fit my use.
- DCodes1 4y agoWhat would you say your use would be? Or in other words, what would you need your brainstorming tool to be able to do?