Your Planning Process

Planning a hardware project can feel like trying to solve a puzzle where half the pieces are missing and the other half keeps changing shape. You know you need a plan, but where do you start when everything seems to depend on everything else?

Soufflé breaks this overwhelming challenge into a clear sequence that helps you build a realistic plan step by step. Instead of getting lost in details upfront, you'll start with your end goal and work backwards to create a plan that actually holds together.

Step 1: Define your goal

Project goals typically focus on outcomes. Write what success looks like in 40 characters or less. This becomes the anchor point everything else connects to.

Step 2: Map your dependencies

In Diagram Space, add all the tasks needed to reach your goal. Connect them by dragging from one task to another. Group related tasks together. Add milestones for key checkpoints.

Step 3: Estimate effort

In Resource Plan Space, add time estimates to each task. Use full or partial days (like 2.5 days). Add notes if your estimates need explanation.

Step 4: Validate your plan

Checks Space automatically finds problems: disconnected tasks, missing estimates, circular dependencies. Fix all errors before moving forward.

Step 5: Review your timeline

Visualize Space shows your Gantt chart. Check if the timeline makes sense. Look for bottlenecks or unrealistic scheduling.

Step 6: Create outputs

Export Space processes results for presentations (PNG) or data for execution tools (CSV). Choose what to include based on your audience.

Planning tips
  • Don't try to plan everything perfectly upfront. Start with major tasks and refine as you go.
  • If you get stuck, skip details and move to the next major task. Come back to fill in missing later.
  • Use the sample project as reference — it shows real planning patterns you can adapt.
Common planning questions
  • Q: How detailed should my tasks be?
    A: Detailed enough that you can estimate time accurately. If a task needs more than 5 days, consider breaking it into smaller tasks.
  • Q: What if I'm not sure about time estimates?
    A: Make your best guess and add a note explaining your uncertainty. You can always adjust estimates later.
  • Q: Should I include overhead tasks?
    A: Focus on tasks that either take meaningful time (half day or more) or are critical dependencies. Skip minor tasks that don't affect the timeline.
  • Q: What if my project changes during execution?
    A: Update your Soufflé plan as changes happen. Export new timelines to keep stakeholders informed of revised schedules.
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