After six weeks

Six weeks is a sweet spot when you are hopeful about the next possible steps but also feeling the growing backlog. This is the time where if the project hasn't died yet then just the right mixture of impatience and excitement might drive you to jump to acceleration. To double down on one of these possible next steps and go as fast as possible.

But you know what? I'm actually not so clear on which next step to take. They all look so damn good. If I was unclear but I hadn't been working on new features for this project the previous six weeks then I'd say that the best action would be to just pick one -- even at random -- and give it a go without pressure on the outcome. But given that I've been building for these past six weeks I'm actually going to take the next two weeks refactoring the code and writing more tests. 

This was really hard to commit to. I want to emphasize how difficult this is because I don't want anyone reading this -- especially in the future -- to think this was some easy decision. 

Currently excitement still is my main driver in this early project. I can't wait for the new user interactions I want to build. But honest reflection on how much sloggier implementing some of the Tribes interaction has been relative to earlier features and likewise features unrelated to the existing codebase has made me accept that I ought to actually do maintenance work if I'm in this for the long haul.

So no new features for the next two weeks, except for any minor ones that might naturally come as a consequence of refactoring itself. 

When you can't wait to do something, reflect... is it something new? Then go wild.
When you can't wait to do something and you've been there for awhile. Maybe try the waiting. Because here the waiting is more 'doing' than doing.

If you don't have enough time to meditate for five minutes a day,
you need an hour of meditation
Replies to After six weeks
I think the feature set is pretty damn good already. "[taking] the next two weeks refactoring the code and writing more tests" sounds like a very solid plan to me.
2021-01-18 03:59:04
Solid indeed. Thanks for your kind, thoughtful support, Daniel!
2021-01-18 14:49:12
I second Daniel's comment. Things are great!
2021-01-18 23:58:48
I echo 
dealingwith
's assessment. Also, for what it is worth, in my limited exposure to Adagia my strong impression is that you've built something special here. You did a rare thing and brought a community of people _together_ - that is no easy feat. The engage is amazing & the sparks that give way to new and challenging thinking are aplenty. All that is to say that you have my support as you continue to figure out this journey. 
2021-01-19 02:25:45
Ha @will I actually cheated because these group of people already existed as a cohort of consistent writers. Our previous home simply was slated to shut down so this was one of the places to migrate to. Another were golifelog.com and writestreak.team 

sorry that I can't link to them in comments. Links in comments will come after this two weeks of maintenance : )

Thank you to Will, Keni, and Daniel for all your thoughtful support :) :) :)
2021-01-19 16:42:29
Still, don't downplay the generous service you are doing here: you've kept the organism alive - one that, without intervention, would have likely died or perhaps reemerged somewhere else with less vitality. The house burned down; you kindly offered to build a new one. 
2021-01-19 16:45:57

Documenting Adagia