How do you prepare your projects?

[eluser]jedd[/eluser]
Try reading the PRINCE2 book .. it'll make your toes curl.

This is one of those questions that doesn't have an easy answer. If you're working on a project for, you know, money and livelihood, then some discipline is going to be required. If you're working with anyone else, then you're going to have to approach this differently than if you're hacking away at code by yourself.

I think it's the huge number of permutations that make it hard to come up with a cookie-cutter procedure.

For me it's pondering my source data, (mostly) normalising a schema design, thinking of a new screen / interface that would be useful, trying to fit that into an existing controller's purview, abstracting things as best I can as I go, and never really finishing anything. So it's probably not the best approach.

So, what kind of organisation do you feeling that you're missing out on?