Useful steps in big projects

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Hi everyone:
I recently started one of the biggest projects until now (http://kdams.es) and I had to stop for a while and think on how I was going to manage it, and well, here is my list of the most useful steps (from my point of view):
They are not in any kind of order.,.

1- Think of all the stuff you need to program (php, javascript...) and try to find opensource codes that already do that. This way you'll save a lot of time and it is going to be probably better than your own coding...
Now, some scripts that will make your life way easier!

User system, with admins and lots of functions and very easy to adapt:
http://www.evolt.org/PHP-Login-System-with-Admin-Features
Picture uploader:
http://www.maaking.com/index.php?loadpage=scripts
Import contacts from msn, yahoo, gmail... using a php class:
http://torrentialwebdev.com/blog/archives/37-MSN-contact-grab-web-service-is-finally-up.html
Javascript date selector (with visual calendar)
http://www.javascriptkit.com/ (Then go to "Date Selector (DtTvB) - 2006-03-16")

2- Design and simplify the most you can your index page. Do all layout in divs if possible, and then all the css. Once you are done use the Jigsaw CSS validator and make sure it is accesible.

3- Once you have completed step 2, look for the parts that will be always the same (header, footer, navigation...) and create a folder in root (I usually call it core) where you will create html documents with those parts (header.htm, footer.htm...) and once that is done use php to include them in your index instead of the actual code.

4- Also you can add to that core folder your meta tags, your css includes, and javascripts you may have...

5- As a little advice, create another folder for your php library. I usually call it lib, and in there I put for example the admin system, the picture upload system, and every single php function I have goes in there. So that when I need it in a page, I just include the php file I need and thats it.

6- It is not really necessary, but it helps a lot to have something like phpmyadmin or similar stuff to manage your MySQL databases, it also helps to do manual backups and all that.

And well, that is pretty much all by now! I will probably keep adding more tips as I think of them
If you come up with another step you always take, comment it below, and I'll add it!
Luck with your projects!



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