NOTE: This was a post migrated from my previous Ghost blog. If links don’t work and you would really like to see it, it’s probably posted somewhere in this blog.

This post is an opinionated documentation of my standard operating procedure (SOP) for embarking on a new project involving tech.

To put things in context, the SOP that follows has been used by me and proven good for creation of web-based products & services using the Agile methodology. I have no stakes in (though I wish I did) the recommended third party platforms, and my focus is on free, or at minimum, free for small teams (1-5 people) software that works out-of-the-box. Note that if you’re following it, you may not need every step depending on the scale of your project - think before you implement!

The steps herein will get you set up to a point where:

1. Multiple channels exist for various levels of team communication,
2. Code and data can move from development to deployment safely/securely & customers can access your site,
3. Search engines can pick up and link your sites together, and
4. You’ll be all set to begin mass marketing efforts.

Moving forward however, is your action to take. Here goes.

1. Mother Infrastructure

1.1 Central Source of Truth

Create a general Gmail account for use with all things related to project of interest.

2. Technical Infrastructure

2.1 Domain Name

Purchase domain name from NameCheap (check for promo coupons HERE before registration).

2.2 Custom Domain Email

Set up email infrastructure via Zoho Mail (create a referral from another account so we have 10 users instead of 5). Create at least one account with an address webmaster@yourdomain.com. Ping me for a referral.

2.3 Technical Communications

Set up communications infrastructure: MailGun if platform requires mail sending functionality, Twilio if platform requires text message sending functionality.

2.4 A Home for your Code

2.4.1 BitBucket

BitBucket offers free private repos and comes with 5 free users which should be enough for project initilization. Comes with a free CI runner too.

2.4.2 GitHub

GitHub offers free repos for open sourced projects. Otherwise, private repos start at $9/user which is still decent if you’ve got funding. Does not come with a free CI.

2.4.3 GitLab

Not for the faint hearted to set up, attempt only with a strong technical team. Set up a t2.medium instance on AWS or a 4GB droplet on DigitalOcean and install GitLab. Costs roughly $120 a year but you get unlimited repos, teams and a fully functional CI runner engine.

2.5 Continuous Integration

Set up continuous integration/delivery tools on CodeShip. Do a second commit and push to confirm build success.

2.6 Continous Delivery

Set up an account in Heroku, link DNS records with Heroku and create both a Staging and Production version. Configure CodeShip to deploy to Heroku on build & test success. Do a third commit and push to confirm deployment success. Promote Staging to Production to confirm first release success.

2.7 Secure The Goods

If your application needs SSL support, set up new Droplet on DigitalOcean and set up a CentOS server. Create a clone of Staging/Production by pulling from Heroku.

Set up an account at StartSSL, create a free certificate for your domain and link it up with Digital Ocean (or you could pay $22/month to Heroku to let them do it for you).

2.8 Quick & Dirty Database

Set up a Firebase account for a quick & dirty back-end but consider switching to a relational database eventually.

2.9 Analytics

Set up a Google Analytics property/account.

2.10 Facebook App

Create a Facebook App for your service. Facebook logins are one of the easiest to implement. Plus point, you get to collect emails.

3. Management Architecture

3.1. Document Repository

Set up Google Drive for document sharing.

3.2 Project Management

Set up project management tools if working in a group: Trello for small projects and/or kan-ban based models, Pivotal Tracker for larger projects and/or scrum based models. Paid alternatives: Basecamp. Search for the API key and pass it to Technical Architecture.

3.3 Internal Communications

Set up communication channels: Slack or HipChat or Telegram or plain ol’ email depending on size of team/scope of project.

3.4 Legal Affairs

For potential startups, do up founder contracts using tools like LawCanvas and Dragon Law. Hint: Find your ways.

4. Go-To-Market Architecture

4.1. Mode of Payments

4.1.1 PayPal

Set up a PayPal account to receive small monies, and…

4.1.2 Stripe

A Stripe account for larger amounts.

4.2 Marketing & Publicity

Set up the following platforms as needed depending on the type of content served:

4.2.1 Facebook

Almost always a must-have. Targets the general population. Sign up

4.2.2 Instagram

If you’re targeting the younger population. Sign up

4.2.3 Medium

For demonstration of thought leadership. Sign up

4.2.4 YouTube

For easy video-hosting. Use it to host unlisted videos for investors/beta-testers/in-app videos. Sign up

4.2.5 Pinterest

For E-Commerce/Lifestyle projects. Sign up.

4.2.6 Tumblr

For casual blogging purposes without the hassle of other platforms. Sign up

4.2.7 SoundCloud

If you’ve got audio content. Sign up.

4.2.8 Twitter

Getting irrelevant but useful for bite-sized information if that’s what you need. Useful for American focus. Sign up.

4.3 Advertising Capabilities

Set up advertising profiles on Facebook & Instagram (set it up once via Facebook).

4.4 Search Engine Optimisation

Set up a Google Web Masters account and submit the Sitemap URL.

4.5 Investor Sourcing

For startup types: get company profile up on Angel Co, Tech in Asia and LinkedIn.

Go forth and fail fast(;

CHANGELOG

21 May 2017 - reformatted