get started the -right- way on my application

[Keith Henderson]

I need to build a small application, 1 exe, 4-5 forms, about 5 imbedded
Crystal Reports, about 5 classes, one locally installed access database,
etc. I will be the only coder. I don't want to start another application
where I just code right away because I can see that I waste time because I
didn't think of things before I coded it. What I want to do is think about
the application before I code it but I have no idea how to get started. I
never worked under any senior developers before so I am primarily self
taught. Can someone suggest some links for some good white papers on a
better way to get started? I'm not really looking to do some massive Visio
or UML project, I don't want to spend so much time learning "planning" like
I'm training to be an architect, I just want to start right and do it better
for once!

Thank you.

[Josh]

When I start this sort of thing I go to basics and draw lists of items to be
considered.

I start with

1 . Input
2. Process
3. Output

Then I break each list down, into sub items

1. Input
a. Security
b. Look And Feel
c. etc

Then I look for patterns and similar items that can be lifted from previous
programs and sections that might be used in more than one place. Then I
start to have a list of references and utility classes that I might have to
write.

Hope that helps to get you started.