prototyping à la node with express (at nationjs)
DESCRIPTION
Talk given at NationJS 10/4/13 Schedule Description: In this talk, Pam Selle (thewebivore.com) will demonstrate a simple method of rapid prototyping and idea validation. You’ll learn how to use Express.js for rapid prototyping, leverage user testing to validate designs and interactions, and get it all up and running on the web quickly and easily.TRANSCRIPT
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Prototyping à la Node with ExpressPam Selle
@pamasaurthewebivore.com
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This is a little talk about prototyping and user testing
+This is a little talk about Express and building quick websites with Node
Hopefully you learn a little something
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Prototyping
+What is prototyping?
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing
to be replicated or learned from.
Source: ye olde Wikipedia
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“The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.”
-Linus Pauling
+Playing modes
Idea/Concept
Process/Technique
Replicate/Learn
+Prototypes:
Quick
Make early
Not necessarily pretty
Not permanent
+Prototypes are not:
The first iteration of a project
+Prototyping/wireframing tools
Balsamiq
Justinmind
Mixture.io
Axure
InvisionApp
Adobe Empire (Photoshop, Illustrator …)
… and lots more
+… forget that!
Let’s do it all in JavaScript!
(and HTML/CSS)
+Express.js
Web app framework
Analogous to Sinatra
http://expressjs.com/
+Express.js
Routes
Requests
Views
+Wow!
That sounds good for making a web app prototype.
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STOPDemo time.
+Cheat to win!
npm install –g express
express [appname]
+Prototyping
Not difficult to build!
Express is pretty nifty
But not always necessary
Nice article on Express Understanding Express.js from Evan Hahn
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User Testing
+Why user test?
Usability!
The ‘U’s of usability Utility: Does it do what you need? Usability: Ease and pleasure of use Useful: usability + utility
Useful, usable, desirable (Liz Sanders)
Needed, understandable, wanted & enjoyable
You are not your users/audience
+User testing
Test early.
Look for heuristics violations.
Look for anger.
Document.
+Test early
+Look for heuristics violations
http://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
+Look for anger
+Document
Take pictures
Take (limited) notes
Then, you iterate.
+User Testing
Do it early
Observe
Document
Great book: Don’t Make Me Think
+Summary
Use prototyping to cheaply produce something to show
Express is a quick, fun way to create apps
User testing is fast, cheap, and you can do it!
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@pamasaur
thewebivore.com
Thank you!