Balancing the technical aspects of coding with the human side of project coordination is an art form—and one that I’ve come to truly appreciate over time. A project isn’t just about writing clean, functional code; it’s also about organizing, planning, delegating, and ensuring that everything stays on track. This balance is what transforms an idea into something tangible and polished.
I had a chance to reflect on this recently at Vancouver Tech Journal’s Tech Industry Social. While chatting with Nawar Tamawi, I shared how much I enjoy the process of planning, organizing, and coordinating people when working on projects. It reminded me of my experience building the theoctobers portfolio webpage, where I got to put these skills to the test.
The Spark of an Idea
Every project starts with an idea, but turning that idea into a structured plan is where the magic happens. For theoctobers portfolio, I wanted to incorporate Three.js, a library for creating 3D experiences on the web. Initially, I struggled to figure out how to apply it in a way that felt cohesive and visually engaging. The solution came when I shifted my focus to simplicity: a “hallway” where the user would move backwards through the space.
This small yet clear idea became the foundation for the project. It gave me a vision to work toward and made it easier to plan the placement and behavior of 3D objects within the scene.
Breaking It Down: Planning and Delegation
Once the vision was clear, it was time to break it down into manageable pieces. I started identifying the discrete components needed to make the idea a reality:
- What objects would exist in the scene?
- How would they interact with the user?
- Which components could be reused or modularized?
By componentizing the project, I could focus on one piece at a time without getting overwhelmed by the scope. This also made it easier to delegate tasks or track progress, as each piece had a clear purpose and goal.
When working on a team, this kind of planning is invaluable. It ensures everyone knows their role and how their work contributes to the bigger picture. Even when working solo, it keeps the project organized and prevents the “spaghetti code” nightmare.
The Build Phase: Balancing Technical and People Skills
Once the plan was in place, I started building each component one at a time. This is where the balance between technical and human skills really comes into play. Here’s how I approached it:
- Technical Work: Writing the code, debugging issues, and fine-tuning the interactions. (There were plenty of bugs to squash along the way!)
- Human Work: Staying organized, setting priorities, and keeping track of how each piece fit into the overall timeline. If this were a team effort, it would also mean checking in with collaborators and making sure tasks were progressing smoothly.
It’s easy to get lost in the technical side of a project, but stepping back to focus on coordination and progress tracking is just as important. It ensures that the project moves forward cohesively and that no piece is forgotten.
Lessons Learned
This project taught me a lot about balancing the two sides of development—technical execution and human coordination:
- Start with a Vision: Even a simple idea, like a hallway in this case, can act as an anchor for the rest of the project.
- Plan Before You Build: Breaking the project into components saves time and prevents confusion later.
- Stay Organized: Use tools (like Trello, Notion, or even a good old-fashioned checklist) to keep track of progress.
- Embrace Both Sides: Great projects come from both technical skill and strong coordination. Don’t neglect one for the other.
Final Thoughts
Building theoctobers portfolio webpage was a rewarding experience that reminded me why I love working on projects that blend creativity, technology, and planning. Whether you’re working solo or in a team, finding the balance between coding and coordinating is key to turning ideas into successful projects.
If you’d like to see the final product, check it out here:
theoctobers portfolio webpage
And if you’re navigating a similar balance in your own projects, I’d love to hear about your experiences!
Hashtags for inspiration: #webdevelopment #planning #programming #threejs