Blog

What Is A MVP - A Minimum Viable Product?

Today we take a cautious look into our wizard's kitchen. I would like to show how we approach new development projects. There are two different approaches for us.

We Simply Build The App

When the scope of a new app is very manageable, it's easy to assess the risk of development. The cost is low because, for example, only one developer is working on it for a short time (less than a month). In this case, we define a feature set, the app is built and out to the public with it. This was the case with Phone Memos, Meeting Cards and also with Herein.

The Feature Set Is Too Large For "Just Building It".

Sometimes, during initial discussions about a new app, you can immediately see that this scope will exceed the person-month limit. Or - as in Merlin Project – the product is of strategic importance. In this case, we are talking about a risk investment and here, of course, we proceed accordingly more cautiously.

Merlin Project 8.1.5 Is Released

We have just released the version 8.1.5. This free update is important for Merlin Project.

• If you work with Merlin Project from the App Store, a new version will be made available to you after checking the Mac App Store.
• If you have downloaded Merlin Project from this website, update this version for free using the menu command in the app "Check for updates ...".
• The version for the iPad and iPhone appears automatically in the App Store after verification by Apple.

We have also updated Merlin Project Express. The new versions will be provided in the Mac App Store or at SetApp – right after its review.

You can find the minimum system requirements here.

New Netplan View In The Templates

Even though it's always a bit quieter for us in the summer, there's a lot going on in the background. On the one hand, we have to implement all the surprises that Tim Cook and his team brought us at WWDC. On the other hand, this time finally gives us the opportunity to tackle the issues that are usually pushed further and further back. Yes, we can also procrastinate 😉.

Today we start with a new diagram for the network. Together with our esteemed partner Kathrin Lamm we have been working on the bubble chart. In her blog (in 🇩🇪 language) she has published an interesting article on how to use the new network representation.

Accelerate@HHL 2022: Leaving My Comfort Zone

Those who know me know that I have been doing ProjectWizards for 20 years and Merlin Project for almost 18 years. So everyone can easily imagine that I know a lot of people in the business. No matter if I show up at an Apple event, or a project management event, I already meet the first known people right at the entrance. That's nice, it gives me a good feeling and it's fun. That's how I know that the years of work have paid off and that the network I've built up is working. Because people help each other, they exchange ideas. And even if you don't do business directly with each other, sooner or later it pays off for both of us in some form or another.

But I also have to admit that after 20 years you become more idle. You only choose events where you know that there will be something going on - whatever. And this comfort zone became bigger and bigger for me. Of course, no trips took place during Covid-19, and the urge to attend online community meetings became more and more suppressed. I noticed myself getting more and more cushy. And then the opportunity came: Accelerate@HHL 2022!

Con Merlin Project en la Deutsche Bahn

"No soy compatible con la Deutsche Bahn" fue mi respuesta durante muchos años cuando me preguntaban sobre mi elección de modo de viaje. Ni siquiera podría decir exactamente cuánto tiempo había pasado desde mi último viaje en tren, pero podrían ser entre 10 y 15 años.

Sin embargo, hace poco se dio el caso de que la única forma razonable de hacer un viaje de negocios era en tren. Y con ello me refiero a una combinación de tiempo y dinero. Así que elegí valientemente esta opción y me lancé a la aventura.

En el transcurso de 3 días, viajé de Osnabrück a Stuttgart, a Múnich y de ahí de vuelta a Osnabrück. He aprendido mucho en este viaje. Se confirmaron algunos viejos prejuicios, pero también se revisaron muchos. He aquí algunas de mis reflexiones: