Week 1: Project Management

Introduction

During the first week of the Fab Academy, we focused on project management. This included setting up a personal website for documentation, learning about version control using Git, and organizing our workflow efficiently. Proper documentation is crucial to track progress and document everything done so one can always come back if any confusion occurs.

Note:This website was created a bit late and quite a lot of chatgpt was used though I will highlight the important snippets of code if anyone wants to replicate the process.

Version Control with Git

We learned how to use Git, a distributed version control system, to manage and document our progress efficiently. The steps included:

• Creating a Git repository on a remote platform like GitLab.
• Cloning the repository to our local machines using the command git clone <repo-url>.
• Making changes, adding files with git add, and committing updates using git commit -m "commit message".
• Pushing updates to the remote repository using git push.
• Learning how to pull updates from the remote repository using git pull to sync our work.
• Resolving merge conflicts when working collaboratively.

Git allowed us to track changes over time, collaborate with peers, and maintain a history of our work.

Website Development

We created a personal website to document our weekly progress. This website serves as a portfolio showcasing all our work, challenges, and learnings throughout the Fab Academy.

The steps involved in setting up the website included:

• Choosing a website framework (HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, or a static site generator like Jekyll).
• Creating a homepage with an introduction and navigation menu.
• Adding dedicated pages for weekly assignments.
• Embedding images, videos, and downloadable files for better documentation.
• Hosting the website using GitLab Pages.

Project Planning

Effective project planning is key to managing time and resources efficiently. We explored various project management tools such as:

• Trello: A task management tool that helps visualize progress using a Kanban board.
• Gantt Charts: Used for tracking project milestones and deadlines.
• Markdown Documentation: Writing structured documentation using simple Markdown syntax.

By using these tools, we could break down complex projects into smaller tasks and set realistic deadlines.

Challenges and Solutions

During the week, we encountered several challenges:

• Understanding Git Commands: Initially, working with Git from the command line was overwhelming. However, by practicing common commands and using Git GUI tools, we improved our understanding.
• Website Formatting: Designing a structured and responsive website required learning basic HTML and CSS. Using templates and Bootstrap made the process easier.
• Managing Large Files: Version control systems like Git have limitations with large files. To address this, we used Git LFS (Large File Storage) for handling bigger assets like 3D models and videos.

By working through these challenges, we gained valuable skills in version control, web development, and project management.

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