I wish I could show off the prototype.

The last two nights of work on my web-based Project Management application, Ataraxis Unity, was spent on prototyping (non-functional mock-ups) the project task list screen and the application layout as a whole.

Monday Night
Since I've switched from an HTML to OpenLaszlo/Flash GUI I wanted to build the prototype screen for the task list damn near last. I wanted to get a feel for programming with OpenLaszlo before I started tackling the most important screen in the whole app. (As a Project Manager at my current job I can tell you all of the operations surrounding the viewing, creating, and editing tasks makes or breaks the app.) I've just started to work on the task list screen, and I have to say having OpenLaszlo's drag and drop, transparency, and animation features is going to be killer.

Tuesday Night
I did a major overhaul of my application's layout last night. When I started working on the OpenLaszlo/Flash version of the GUI I basically took the layout I had from the HTML version and converted into OpenLaszlo code. Changing the easy stuff, such as using the OpenLaszlo "window" class for certain items, as opposed to using the whole page like I was in HTML. But the design just wasn't ... amazing enough. It was clean and simple, but I couldn't see anyone using it and being passionate about it. I've made some modifications, and with a little help from my graphic artist cousin (Chris Scalici - and you thought my name sounded Italian!) - I'm totally exicted about the direction it's going. You've heard this before, but having OpenLaszlo's drag and drop, transparency, and animation features is going to be killer. ;)

Prototype To-do's

• I've got to make a few more tweaks to the layout based on an email exchange I had with Chris today.
• Finish prototype for the task screen. (It's about 30% complete.)
• Finish about a half dozen random prototype "form" screens.
• Assemble the "Home" page prototype.

I can't wait until this prototype is finished. It will basically cement my feature set for my day one launch. Once it's done, I'll probably spend a day or two writing simple specifications for each feature. (I already have some of that done from before my big, "Taking a step back...", thing.) Then I'll be back to designing and coding!

I really really really really really really want to have a working beta version done before the end of the year.