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How we rewrote the Kicksend web app in one month: tips & tricks

67 points by skyfallsin 14y ago

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
karanmg 14y ago
Rewrites can either be awesome or a struggle to complete and release. Looks like you guys did well. How did you run alternate code in parallel in production - I'm concerned about breaking SEO.
msie 14y ago
If switching over involved flipping a switch then you were doing some type of staging. I had the initial impression that you were deploying live.
guynamedloren 14y ago
nice job on the rewrite! similar concept: http://boxify.me http://boxify.me built in 1 morning by 1 person. disclaimer: it was me.
- joering2 14y ago
  Application Error An error occurred in the application and your page could not be served. Please try again in a few moments. If you are the application owner, check your logs for details. -- wow! you coded that all in one morning?
  - guynamedloren 14y ago
    Good job with your sarcasm. That, my friend, is a timeout, and since it's a side project running on a free (and very limited) heroku instance, I have a feeling somebody is trying to be funny/malicious.
    - joering2 14y ago
      well it wasn't me, but if it was me, I would make sure my show off project is top notch up and running before showing it up on HN.
aaronbrethorst 14y ago
Things you should never do, part 1: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000069.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000069.html
- pbreit 14y ago
  I used to think that was a solid rule but no more. Nowadays it's almost a strategy to launch with barely more than a functioning prototype and then re-write later. The learnings from the first draft are immeasurable.
mattmanser 14y ago
Friendly tip. Add a really obvious link to your product on the blog somewhere. Also the kicksend logo should probably not link back to blog.kicksend.com, that's really irritating, why would I ever want to go to the root of your blog? It's a conversion barrier to have to transfer to the address bar to figure out who the hell you are. After all what's the point in this traffic if you can't capitalize on it.

67 points by skyfallsin 14y ago

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

Rewrites can either be awesome or a struggle to complete and release. Looks like you guys did well. How did you run alternate code in parallel in production - I'm concerned about breaking SEO.

msie 14y ago

If switching over involved flipping a switch then you were doing some type of staging. I had the initial impression that you were deploying live.

guynamedloren 14y ago

nice job on the rewrite! similar concept: http://boxify.me http://boxify.me built in 1 morning by 1 person. disclaimer: it was me.

joering2 14y ago
Application Error An error occurred in the application and your page could not be served. Please try again in a few moments. If you are the application owner, check your logs for details. -- wow! you coded that all in one morning?
- guynamedloren 14y ago
  Good job with your sarcasm. That, my friend, is a timeout, and since it's a side project running on a free (and very limited) heroku instance, I have a feeling somebody is trying to be funny/malicious.
  - joering2 14y ago
    well it wasn't me, but if it was me, I would make sure my show off project is top notch up and running before showing it up on HN.

aaronbrethorst 14y ago

Things you should never do, part 1: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000069.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000069.html

pbreit 14y ago
I used to think that was a solid rule but no more. Nowadays it's almost a strategy to launch with barely more than a functioning prototype and then re-write later. The learnings from the first draft are immeasurable.

mattmanser 14y ago

Friendly tip. Add a really obvious link to your product on the blog somewhere. Also the kicksend logo should probably not link back to blog.kicksend.com, that's really irritating, why would I ever want to go to the root of your blog? It's a conversion barrier to have to transfer to the address bar to figure out who the hell you are. After all what's the point in this traffic if you can't capitalize on it.