[RESOLVED] How do you remember to do something if it's a month or two down the road?
I just found a security problem in a login page of our ASP.NET application. After typing in an id and password, the code has an if test right there inline, saying if (id = me and password = one) or (id = you and password = two) or (id = him and id = three) then login successful else login failed. This is code a consultant just migrated from ASP to .NET. Or maybe he only migrated VB6 DLL's to .NET, so maybe he was never in the login page. Regardless, when I noticed this I mentioned it to my boss and he said "you should change that" (i.e. to db tables and stored procedures where it should've gone in the first place) and I said now or two months from now and he said in two months.
I don't know how to remember tasks like this. I am the only programmer and I report to the president of the company so I don't have anyone managing me or doing any project management and I know I'm going to forget. What tools do you use to track assignments far into the future (i.e. further than tomorrow?)
Thanks.
Re: How do you remember to do something if it's a month or two down the road?
I use Outlook for emails and calendar etc, so I use the task list built in to it - as it not only gives you a list of things to do (which can be sorted, searched, etc), but also gives you a reminder when the time comes.
Re: How do you remember to do something if it's a month or two down the road?
Thanks - I was actually thinking of putting it in Outlook's Calendar, but I see the Task List you suggested and I will look into its functionality.
Re: How do you remember to do something if it's a month or two down the road?
Looks good to me - you've helped me a lot today, thanks.
Re: How do you remember to do something if it's a month or two down the road?
I like to use an issue tracker system — not one just for myself, but one related to the project, if it exists.
Otherwise, I forget.
Re: How do you remember to do something if it's a month or two down the road?
Yeah, Outlook is good! I was also using the calendar built-in to MS Project 2007 when I was doing my project management course.
Re: How do you remember to do something if it's a month or two down the road?
Outlook rules. I keep all of my tasks in there as a to-do list and, if I want to be reminded of anything (including that a task is coming due) I chuck a reminder in the calander (I'm aware you can add reminders to tasks but I've never bothered - I suspect it's just a short cut to putting something in the calander anyway). The task categories are really handy too.
Re: How do you remember to do something if it's a month or two down the road?
Outlook is a nice product, however it's not what most companies use to manage projects.
In real corporate world they use utilities such MS Office Project (whether someone likes it or not isn't much relevant.
Also, (and I believe someone's already mentioned it) your company needs to have corporate (or enterprise wide) enhancement/bug tracking system like DevTrack.
This way your management may plan resource allocation (so they can buget more accurate) way in advance.
Basically, your boss needs training on project management. ;)
Re: How do you remember to do something if it's a month or two down the road?
i use outlook, i also use people around me. if i get asked for somthing i normaly do it there and then. else i wait for them to ask for it again.
i too don't realy get managed in the traditional sence.
Re: How do you remember to do something if it's a month or two down the road?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Nightwalker83
...when I was doing my project management course.
I'm envious!
Thanks everyone for all the replies. This little task is outside the main application I spend most of my time in - which does have an issue reporting "system" - but it fails short at times since problem tickets are printed on paper and given to me and I don't have the greatest filing system.
Re: How do you remember to do something if it's a month or two down the road?
Hey Nightwalker - was it a good course and do you recommend it? I was just thinking, if my boss doesn't want to manage my projects then he should send me to training so that I can learn how. (The last training I went to he paid for, but I had to take a week off unpaid in order to attend. That's not happening again, trust me!)
Re: How do you remember to do something if it's a month or two down the road?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MMock
Hey Nightwalker - was it a good course and do you recommend it? I was just thinking, if my boss doesn't want to manage my projects then he should send me to training so that I can learn how. (The last training I went to he paid for, but I had to take a week off unpaid in order to attend. That's not happening again, trust me!)
I had to study project management as one of my subject in my Web design course. Yeah, if you feel you are capable of managing other for a job I say do the course.
