WordPress SoC Update: Stage 1 Research Plan
As part of the Google Summer of Code, I am working with the WordPress project. The end goal is to prototype a new (or improve an existing) plugin or feature which will give WordPress a unique edge in the online blogging/publishing market. I am doing this through a comparative analysis of other products which are competing for the same users as WordPress and finding gaps or interest points to focus on. The three dimensions I am focusing on in the comparison are suitability, functionality, and usability.
The past week I have been working on details of a research plan which will shape the next two weeks’ analysis which include who I am going to compare and what I am going to compare. Direct market competitors include WordPress, MoveableType, and ExpressionEngine. There are also several secondary competitors which include Blogger, LiveJournal, and Vox. As I mentioned before, suitability, functionality, and usability are the three dimensions I am focusing my comparison on. I am compiling a list of heuristics and guidelines for each of those dimensions which each product will be graded and compared on.
This week:
I will continue fleshing out primary audiences and user groups and the set of tasks which will be the center of this analysis. These details will shape a lot of the dimensions in the comparison plan. I hope to get most of this done before next weekend so I can begin the product comparisons and provide that data in the next update.
seele :: Jun.11.2007 :: Design, General, Open Source :: 2 Comments »
It’d be nice to have something “shippable” each week, some nugget of tangible product.
feh. google. boooooo.