As many of you know I started a business a little over a year ago now in web site solutions. I have been doing freelance design and development for years and decided it was time to organize something official. I formed Docavedia Information Services LLC and the projects started to pile in. Most of it being referrals, but all of it being enough to keep my part time business busy. I have made mistakes here and there and probably undercharged for some of the projects; all part of learning how to run a small business. One of my biggest fears ended up being one of my mistakes; how to keep things organized. I had spreadsheets and documents for everything I did, but how to organize it all along with my thoughts. It was easy when I had a few projects, but now I have many, all at some stage, being developed concurrently. Why was this a problem? I actually forgot to invoice on a couple of projects when payment for hosting services was due. That’s just wrong!

So I began the search for some sort of project management software. My requirements where, something flexible enough to work with the nature of web development, something mobile (as I am not always at MY computer), and something cheap (preferably free). After a few hours research I found a fit. dotProject is an open source, web based application for project management. It is written in PHP *bliss* and completely web based, making it accessible from anyplace that I can get to the web. Now dotProject is not another content management system, it is a true project management application; much like Microsoft Project. This little application helped me organize all that was going on between projects, and most importantly how much time was being spent on each project. I recommend it to anyone who has access to a web server with PHP and MySQL installed.

In the months I have been using it I already have noticed a difference. I am no longer worrying about what I forgot, or what stage I am at on a project, I just develop. Best I all, if I every need to hire an employee (I would have to be doing this full-time first) it would be easy to collaborate from multiple physical locations. So go and try it for yourself, www.dotproject.net.

I am not one for new years resolutions but everyone needs goals right? Problem is I am a ‘live in the now’ type of person. Yes I think about the future and try to plan a little about it, but I rarely execute day to day activities base on the long term. So in an effort to feel like I accomplished something in this next 12 month period I am outlining some goals in no particular order.

1. Complete version 2.0 of the Docavedia Content Management System; it’s about 5% complete right now. This is my brainchild that I originally created to share with the public, but since have decided to strictly use it for my own web site designs exclusively. Long story short, lot’s of code for me to write.
2. Get project 67Duece (my car project I started back in 2005) in rolling chassis form this summer. Once rolling and can get it home and start working on the details, or as far as the pocket book will take me.
3. Revamp this site and actually use the technology I have been developing for all my customers web sites these last few years. Currently everything you see here is manually edited and uploaded to my site. If you do not understand what that means you would not appreciate the amount of work to be done. Bottom line, when I get it working you will be able to respond to my brain dumping I post here.
   I decided to use Word Press Version 2.5 and make my life allot easier.
   
4. Get my personal amount of debt under control. I know that contradicts #3, but I will do the best I can. Anybody know anyone that need some web development performed? :)
5. Have fun watching my daughter grow up. I tell myself not to miss out on the good times that are happening right now. I have caught myself recently doing too much work and not enough time with family. Between my new job and some better organization at home I think I can accomplish this one.

So that’s it, my list for 2008. It will be interesting to see how many more posts I make before I am revisiting this list to see what I accomplished. Email your comments to 2docdave[at]gmail[dot]com and I will add them here.