There’s nothing like a product launch to call to mind the things that you know but fight against. Our recent launch of Boxrockit reminded me of the fact that there is no such thing as perfect code.
Although Boxrockit was a quick project in relation to our other projects, I confess that I still obsessed about both the design and code. Being a stickler for perfection definitely helps create beautiful products, but can be a drawback in a fiercely competitive environment – especially if not carefully managed.
The recent product launch taught that there is no such thing as perfect code. While you are obsessing about your code and a perfect design, there’s a competitor out there brave enough to release theirs.
At Wixel, quality products is a core focus area, and design is most certainly at the heart of our business. The balancing act of creating a beautiful product with near-perfect code and releasing that project early enough has been the hardest lesson we’ve had to learn.
Never let perfection stop you from releasing products.
The launch / go live day can be a huge mental block for many creatives and the best way to solve that is just to put your work out there for others to see. I know this can be somewhat daunting, but it really isn’t all that bad. Know that people won’t be too critical at first. Fix the issues that pop up and keep moving forward. At the end of the day momentum lends itself to the creation of an idyllic product.
A few things that we’ve been reminded of along the way:
- Things will break as soon as you hit that “go live” button
- Test everything … all the time
- A go-live date is a mental block and stress factor
- There will be bugs – count on it
- Choosing the wrong tools will make life difficult down the line
- Launch does not mean done, it means start
Anyone else feel the same way? It would be great to hear from you!