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# Brain Dump | ||
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The _first_ step in creating a systematic list of any kind | ||
(_and thus a process for accomplishing the things on the list_) | ||
is to empty one's mind (_specifically working memory_) | ||
of everything that is occupying space and processing power. | ||
This step is often referred to as a brain dump. | ||
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![brain-dump-before-after](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/194400/68108635-3497be00-fee0-11e9-83f0-6a56ecc99623.jpg "Brain Dump Diagram - Credit: Annie Mueller") | ||
<!-- this diagram is borrowed from https://anniemueller.com/brain-dump-noun-1 | ||
we definitely need a better one. If you want to help with this, | ||
please open an issue: github.com/dwyl/product-roadmap/issues/new --> | ||
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> A brain dump is the act of writing down everything | ||
that is on your mind so that you don't forget it | ||
and to clear your brain to **focus** on **one thing** | ||
instead of being distracted by many things. | ||
https://anniemueller.com/brain-dump-noun-1 | ||
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The first feature we need to build | ||
is a way of capturing all thoughts | ||
on one's mind. | ||
Thankfully this is just a matter | ||
of capturing free text (_using a **`textarea`** element_) | ||
and safely storing it as **`text`** in Postgres. | ||
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## Existing (_Incomplete_) Approaches | ||
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There are several tools that can be used for an _initial_ brain dump. | ||
They each have their strengths and weaknesses. | ||
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+ Basic notes app on phone/PC - good for initial capture, useless for follow up. | ||
+ Google Docs - quite good for collaborative capture, useless for next steps. | ||
+ Evernote - powerful yet incomplete, over-complicated and expensive. | ||
+ Trello - trello is great for capturing and OK for categorising | ||
but _useless_ for completion. | ||
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Our MVP _could_ be achieved | ||
simply by using one of these | ||
_existing_ Apps | ||
and then focussing on the _next_ step | ||
in the | ||
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### Can't We Just Use Sticky Notes? | ||
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Capturing a brain dump | ||
on paper or sticky notes | ||
_can_ feel like a good step in the moment. | ||
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![colorful-sticky-notes](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/194400/68108210-1ed5c900-fedf-11e9-829b-27f84889e311.jpg) | ||
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But unless those notes | ||
are _immediately_ transferred | ||
to a system and categorised, | ||
most of the information is lost. | ||
We've all been there | ||
in the brain-storming / idea generating | ||
session where everyone shares their thoughts. | ||
Everyone feels great for a few moments, | ||
like _real progress_ has been made, | ||
but in reality walls full of _unorganised_ sticky notes | ||
is where ideas and information go to _die_. | ||
(_sorry if that feels overly dramatic, | ||
but we have felt the frustration | ||
of both **losing** the **individual** sticky notes | ||
and the **entire session** | ||
due to a lack of a systematic process for storing the information_) | ||
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A further downside of sticky notes | ||
is that while they are OK for colocated teams, | ||
they are ***useless*** for **_remote_ collaboration**. | ||
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People often _attempt_ to resolve | ||
this by taking a photo of the board full of sticky notes, | ||
naively thinking that they have "captured" | ||
the information. | ||
While the photo is better than nothing | ||
it creates a false sense of security | ||
because most of the time | ||
the single word on the sticky note | ||
does not capture the whole idea. |