Iterating features and getting them right, by Jeffrey Veen

Iterating features and getting them right

We've been developing features very iteratively with Measure Map. That is, we'll boil a feature down to it's essence, work on it until we've got it solid, and then launch it once that simple core is ready. Then we'll continue to develop "versions" of that feature, adding enhancements and launching them quickly, rather than waiting until something is "feature complete" -- and bloated with stuff nobody wants. It's really not all that innovative of a development process, but keeping scope strictly in check and launching new stuff frequently has really helped keep momentum up both with the team and our users.

The reason I mention this is because we're currently revisiting our browser stats in the application, and it's a really good example of the process. We started with one simple screen: what percentage of your users visited with IE, Firefox, Safari, or "Other" -- along with a way to change the date range being viewed.

Pretty basic, admittedly. But also a useful introduction to users not that familiar with analytics, and probably an easier initiation than a list of hundreds of user agents. So we constrained the feature and launched it rock solid, and are now revisiting it. First step? Drill down into each browser to see gains and losses per version -- especially important now that Firefox 1.5 is gaining adoption. After that? We'll probably show browser share for each post on your blog, or even per link to your blog. So, for example, you could see that when you write about open source, and SlashDot links to you, the resulting audience is 87% Firefox. Neat!

The other obvious benefit of iterative feature development is the ability to do course changes. As we create and launch new features, we do so with a better and better understanding of what resonates with our users. So many of our current design decisions have been influenced by feedback on the early, simple features. So when we circle back to those features, we can do so with more confidence. That's a nice way to manage risk -- we can avoid spending thousands of hours developing features that were poorly conceived. It's a way of testing the waters, and is yet another reason I'd rather be developing a Web app than a piece of shrink-wrapped software.

This entry was written by Jeffrey Veen and posted 25 January 2006 at 5:29 PM. It was filed under Software, Web Design. | View blog reactions

Comments

1. On 25 January 2006 at 6:11 PM maique wrote:

please release, please release...

it makes my mouth water, read about all of these amazing things and feel the graal an inch away.

2. On 25 January 2006 at 7:32 PM Justin Perkins wrote:

Sounds and looks great, can't wait till I can check it out.

That's cool that it's all client-side based too (at least it looks like it), good for getting it out there to more people, easy to intergrate and easy to roll-out new features.

3. On 25 January 2006 at 8:46 PM Adam Shostack wrote:

It looks good! I'm curious why you put percentages where you did, rather than between the browser name and the vertical bar?

As a numbers-oriented sort of person, I'd like to skim down the column.

4. On 25 January 2006 at 10:57 PM Dustin Diaz wrote:

Hey Jeffrey, did you take a snap shot of my account? Those look exactly like my stats ;)

5. On 26 January 2006 at 6:43 PM David Louie wrote:

I'm in on the alpha and really enjoy the tool. I wrote a review here.
http://journals.aol.com/inov8teu/AOLProductDesignWest/entries/637

While I understand the post was more about the process, I have to squeeze in a comment about whether or not Browser usage is a useful stat. Sure all the geeks love to know that 50% of their readers use Firefox! and they seem to even like Firefox 1.7.2.5 more, but is my wife (a big time blogger) and your average Blogger user interested in this. I live in Silicon Valley and 75% percent of the blog writers I know here don't place that much meaning in browsers. Juxtapose this against the stat for location of your readers which is meaningful to a larger degree (IMHO). I'd rather know that my readership from China increased after I wrote that post on Taiwanese independence rather than know that more of my readership who used Firefox increased. This will inform my blog behavior more.
My 2 cents.

6. On 27 January 2006 at 8:49 AM Brady J. Frey wrote:

Hate to hijack your thread, but you blocked comments on the old one, and I just noticed the browser sniffing seems to have stopped for Safari atleast on All GAP umbrella sites. It's ironic, I complained again 2 days ago, since I had to send a gift certificate, pointing out a slew of coding problems, as many have -- and yesterday, as well as today, I can get in.

Is it just my debug by default here people, or are all the GAP umbrella sites now all of a sudden safari friendly (I wouldn't think so, I've tested on all our macs)? Makes me wonder if they hired professionals.

Figured since you got some of the most traffic from the story, you might want to know.

7. On 4 February 2006 at 10:17 AM Jaap wrote:

I have been using Measure Map Alpha for some time now, and I must say that I think it is really the best for blog statistics.

Of course there are some minor issues, but I think Measure Map is ready for launch. Sorry to be saying this but it seems that you are nit-picking on little details while for the majority of bloggers your tool is already perfect. Please don't let the alpha phase drag on too long, you might loose momentum in the development. I already think it is awefully quiet in the forums. I hope this is a good sign; lots of happy users without any problems.

Oh, but before you release Measure Map, could you please make sure it is possible to have several blogs under one account and compare them side-by-side?

Keep up the great work!

8. On 11 February 2006 at 8:14 PM Russell Limprecht wrote:

Patiently waiting for an invite.

9. On 14 February 2006 at 2:37 PM Edmund Pelgen wrote:

Oh Come on guys, I'm dying here...launch soon..

Cheers

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Bio: Jeffrey Veen
Book: "The Art & Science of Web Design"
Book: "HotWired Style: Principles For Building Smart Web Sites"
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Travel: China, Tuscany, Kayaking in Baja, Touring Costa Rica, Studying Theater in London

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Jeffrey Veen