Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

Now, imagine that same scenario, but instead of the software designer being a detached observer, they’re genuinely empathizing with your experience. They understand how frustrating it is to try to use something that isn’t well-designed, and they’re committed to making it better. They care about your success, and they want to help you achieve your goals. That’s the power of empathy in software design.

When designers take the time to understand the needs and goals of their users, they can create products that are truly helpful and easy to use. Empathy leads to better design decisions and ultimately results in a better user experience because good software design is about more than just writing code that meets the requirements of a project. It’s also about creating an experience that meets the needs of users, through empathy with their expectations. Empathy allows designers to put themselves in the shoes of users and understand their perspective to create products that offer a solution instead of making a problem worse. Without empathy, designers are more likely to create software that is confusing and difficult to use. Simply put, empathy is a crucial element of good software design.

However, how can a designer use the element of empathy properly? And what goes into understanding the perspective of a hypothetical user to create the best product a designer possibly can?

What is empathy?

In today’s world, we are increasingly reliant on software to get through our daily lives. From ordering a coffee to communicating with our loved ones, there are few aspects of our lives that don’t involve some form of software, and thus, require a level of technology literacy that can overwhelm the average user if they are not used to it. With this level of dependence, software must be designed with a few things in mind. 

This is where empathy comes in. When we talk about empathy in software development, we are talking about the ability to see things from a perspective outside of the product itself. It’s not just about understanding what they want, but also why they want it. And it’s not just about users, but also stakeholders, project managers, and clients; they all have different roles to play and different perspectives to bring to the table, so empathy is essential for bringing everyone together and getting everyone on the same page. Only with this level of understanding can they create truly user-friendly products.  

“Poor outcomes are more likely because the developers are out of touch with the users of their solutions. Like many who claim to be software “engineers”, they are not engaging in deep user empathy which ultimately leads to unappealing solutions. These engineers are implementers who are insensitive and largely oblivious to the people who use these tools and most important – why they need solutions. […] In my view, these “implementers” cannot work alone; they must be led and fed every element of the business and technical requirements with precision and detail.”

This holistic view of development is what enables the creation of truly great applications. And in an age where we rely on software for everything, this empathy is a crucial element to reach the most successful outcome possible. Furthermore, anyone who has ever tried to use a piece of software that was clearly not designed with the user in mind, or when unclear communication throws a wrench that can derail a whole project, knows how frustrating it can be. 

These disconnects between the designer and the final user and everyone involved in a software development project, have been called Empathy Design Disorder (EDD) by Bill French, Chief Analytics Officer at Stream It Inc. In short, EDD stipulates that “user empathy is a fundamental part of building meaningful user interfaces. For some engineers, though, developing a highly sensitized capacity to inject the feelings and state-of-mind of a user can be challenging.”

Getting into a different headspace

But what does it mean to design software with the user in mind? Because it’s not just about making sure the software is easy to use; it’s about understanding how people think and what they need, getting into their headspace to discover which pain points are more likely to occur during the development and use of a software applications. This means constantly testing and iterating on the design, and when done right, user-centered design can make a big difference in the success of a software product.

Think about how the user is going to interact with it. What are their needs and how can your design meet those needs? It’s not enough to just create something that looks good on ‘paper’; you need to get into the headspace of the user and think about what they’re going to want to do with your software. This means considering things like usability, functionality, and even the emotional response that your design is likely to evoke. After all, they’ll be the ones using your product day in and day out, and you want them to have a positive experience. To that end, here are some starting points to use empathy in a software development environment: 

1. Put yourself in your users’ shoes. Designing software with your user in mind can be challenging, as you may not share the same perspective, so thinking from the end user’s point of view is the only way to go. Ask yourself these questions: What do they need? What are their expectations? Do your best to answer these questions, so that your design meets their needs. You should also look for ways to add a personal touch to the design and make it easier for them to interact with your product or service. Overall, by taking the time to think from your user’s perspective, you will create something that will help build a strong bond between you and them.
2. Pay attention to the details. Attention to detail is so important when it comes to the user experience of an application. Small details can make or break the usability of an application – after all, a great user experience needs to feel effortless and intuitive. An application that pays attention to even the smaller elements of design, such as how easily navigable its menu is or how visually pleasing it appears on different devices adds immense value for users. When designers are considerate enough to pay attention to these types of details during the development process, they end up creating applications that have the potential to become part of a user’s daily routine. Simply put, with great attention to detail comes greater success.
3. Be responsive to feedback. If users are having trouble with your product, listen to their feedback and make changes accordingly. As a software designer, it’s essential to prioritize attending to the users, and taking time to consider the opinions of those who are using it, which is key in creating something that fits within their parameters. Listening to feedback also helps designers gain insights into how users approach solving problems and can help inform future design decisions. At times, it can be difficult to stay open-minded, but being proactive in addressing suggestions and concerns provides an excellent opportunity for creating even better applications. Ultimately, the success of any application depends on its users, so hearing them out is critical in making sure their expectations are met.

Empathy as an outcome

When developing any software, it’s easy to lose sight of the people who will be using the product, which is why empathy should be a core part of any software development project. After all, software developers create programs that are meant to be used by people and it’s important that these people feel genuinely understood. By baking-in empathy into the development process, developers can access a greater level of insight into what users want and need out of their experience with the software. This helps to ensure the product does not just solve problems, but also can be integrated into the lives of the users, making individuals feel appreciated and respected. Empathy in combination with skillful development leads to robust, user-friendly software that a wide range of users can enjoy and benefit from.

In other words, technology is meant to improve our lives, so by taking the time to understand what users need and how they may interact with the product, developers can design something with real impact, offering an experience that feels natural and intuitive, helping to boost satisfaction and creating a powerful sense of connection between users and software. In short, building empathy into every development project isn’t just good for users–it’s essential if you want to truly develop something impactful.

The Key Takeaways

• Software development is a delicate process where a lot of elements have to come together to ensure a positive outcome.
• This makes it easy for a team to create an application that, theoretically, solves a problem, but in practice, nobody can use it effectively.
• This can probably be due to a failure of empathy in the development process, which is failing to thoroughly consider the needs, expectations, and pain points of the average user.
• By allowing empathy to be part of the development process, the result can only be stronger applications that not only solve a problem but also integrate with the experience of the user, the mark of a successful product.

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

“He used to make his house out of whatever color [LEGO] brick he happened to grab. Can you imagine the sort of code someone like that would write?”— Daniel Underwood, “Microserfs”, 1995

Another thing that makes programming fascinating is the fact that it’s always evolving; there are always new languages to learn and new challenges to tackle. For many people, computer programming is the perfect blend of left-brain and right-brain activity, and it’s this balance that makes it so compelling. And whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been coding for years, there’s always something to discover. However, why is the idea of programming so seemingly exclusive to digital spaces? Or is programming, as a concept, beyond what we see on our screens?

Because, as we move towards a future where software and technology are involved in everything we do, the idea of “programming” seems less of an abstract concept, and more of a natural part of our reality, and the same principles can be found in the unlikeliest of places. But what is programming in the physical world? And why stuff like Lego is a great gateway to understanding and getting passionate about something as complex as programming?

Programming in physical spaces

“Have you ever noticed that Lego plays a far more important role in the lives of computer people than in the general population? To a one, computer technicians spent huge portions of their youth heavily steeped in Lego and its highly focused, solitude-promoting culture. Lego was their common denominator toy.” 

These words come directly from the 1995 novel Microserfs by Douglas Coupland, which portrays the lives and concerns of various Microsoft programmers in the early 90s, prior to the release of Windows 95. The novel has been pretty popular since its original publication because it’s a very thorough look at the nascent class of “software people” that was quickly growing during this decade. Simply put, much of the modern software development culture, when early startups like Microsoft made the jump to a corporate existence, started at this time, and many of the insights exposed in the novel still resonate today. 

For example, let’s see the main argument here, which comes from a character waxing poetic about these popular building toys. The core idea here is that Lego bricks are a binary system, where each of the studs in a brick is either connected to another or they are not, enabling anyone to build something concrete. In that sense, Lego bricks could be conceived as a programming language of sorts, with the resulting “application” being a tangible object, like a rocket ship, a house, or whatever you want. As the book explains:

“Lego is ontologically not unlike computers. This is to say that a computer by itself is, well… nothing. Computers only become something when given a specific application. […] To use an Excel spreadsheet or to build a race car, that’s why we have computers and Lego.”

That is not a far-fetched idea, mind you. More complex programs can involve hundreds or even thousands of lines of code, but they all operate on the same principle: single interconnected elements whose logic dictates the final result. And by providing a set of unambiguous instructions, programmers can get computers to perform virtually any task they can imagine. In that same sense, to build something with Legos, you need to have a clear understanding of how the individual pieces fit together; just as a programmer needs to have a strong understanding of syntax to write code, a Lego builder needs a strong understanding of how the pieces fit.

Of course, writing effective programs requires more than just a basic understanding of how to give instructions. It also requires an awareness of the many different ways that something can go wrong. A well-written program anticipates the needs of its users and anticipates the ways that the program might be misused. By anticipating these potential problems, programmers can write robust and user-friendly code. Some would argue that Lego is not a true programming language because it does not allow for abstraction or complex logic. However, there is no denying that Lego represents a powerful system for creating and manipulating physical objects. In many ways, it is similar to the way that code can be used to create and manipulate digital objects. As such, it is safe to say that Lego can indeed be considered a form of programming.

A world built on code

Now, when most people think of programming languages, they think of computer code like Java or Python. However, programming languages are not just limited to computers. Any system that uses a set of instructions can be said to use a programming language, and while computer languages may be the most common type of programming language, they are by no means the only kind.

Back in the day, for example, long before digital computers were a thing, people used analog machines for everything from navigation to weather forecasting. These machines were operated by physical variables like electrical current or fluid pressure, which could be used to represent, store, and process data. Analog computers were often used for agricultural applications, as they could predict things like sunrise and sunset times, moon phases, and tides. In some cases, they were even used to control irrigation systems. And while analog computers are no longer in widespread use, they did play an important role in the development of digital computing.

Analog computers were around for centuries, and although their use has declined in recent years, we can still learn a few tricks from them. For example, these computers are far better at handling continuous data than digital computers because they can represent it more directly, using physical quantities such as voltage or current. As a result, they are often used in scientific and engineering applications where continuous data is common. In addition, analog computers are usually much faster than digital computers when solving certain types of problems because they can perform many operations in parallel, whereas digital computers typically process information sequentially. 

What we are getting at is that we have always lived in a world built on code, where even the simplest expressions of it, like Lego bricks, can have an impact on the way we see and interact with our reality. Although the insight of Microserfs about Lego being analogous to programming might seem odd on first viewing, considering how the field of software development is growing by the day, and evolving just as quickly. Our love of programming probably has a simpler origin than we thought. 

“I think it is safe to say that Lego is a potent three-dimensional modeling tool and a language in itself. And prolonged exposure to any language, either visual or verbal, undoubtedly alters the way a child perceives the universe […] The charm and fun of Lego derives from reducing the organic to the modular: a zebra built of little cubes.”

And with the modern world increasingly reliant on computer code, from the websites we browse to the apps we use, there’s something special in seeing its magic present even in the simplest of things. To code, in simple terms, is human, becoming the main way we conceptualize our reality and build something on it. Be it a humble Lego brick or a complex chain of code, it’s difficult to overstate the presence of code in our modern lives. And as long as there are people who need to solve complex problems, programming will continue to cast its spell everywhere we look. In many ways, our future has always depended on it.

The Key Takeaways

• We always think of “programming” as something that only happens inside computers, but that might be far from the truth.
• If we look at the basic concept of programming, then it’s no surprise to see it everywhere else, and Lego is a great example of it.
• Lego can be conceptualized as a programming language, where each brick connects to build an application.
• That’s because programming goes beyond a computer, and our world has been built on analog machines that predate everything digital.

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

After all, 2023 is shaping up to be a challenging year for the software industry, with several factors coming together to create a perfect storm of sorts. First, the overall economic picture is uncertain, with slowing growth in developed markets and an ongoing trade war making it difficult for companies to plan for the future. In addition, new emerging technologies, like AI and cloud streaming, are threatening to disrupt traditional business models, and the political environment is becoming increasingly challenging to navigate. As a result, 2023 is likely to be a year where companies will need to be agile and adaptable to survive and thrive.

With all that in mind, it’s never too early to start planning for success, and budgeting properly for your development expenses today will be a critical element of that. However, budgeting for your development expenses now can be easier said than done. When it comes to producing software, there are a lot of moving parts, which makes budgeting a bit of a challenge. For one thing, you have to account for the cost of the software itself, as well as the cost of any licenses or subscriptions that may be required, then there’s the cost of hardware, which can vary depending on the needs of the project, and don’t forget about the cost of training and support. Add it all up, and it’s no wonder budgeting a software development project can be so complicated. Of course, there are ways to simplify the process, but at the end of the day, it’s still important to have a clear understanding of all the costs involved. Otherwise, you might find yourself in over your head – and that’s never a good place to be.

Designing a software budget in 2023

Let’s talk about numbers first. According to this article from The Harvest Blog: “Your project team members won’t have the necessary resources they need if you can’t secure the right funding. And if you don’t have a set plan from the start, you run the risk of joining the 57% of companies who say they don’t typically complete their projects within the established budget.” And with the challenges that 2023 will bring to the industry, reaching these goals will be critical.

So, if you’re serious about achieving your development goals, budgeting is a step that you can’t afford to avoid. By starting to budget for your development expenses now, you’ll be in a much better position to succeed. And you may already have a couple of traditional approaches to doing so, like the “Envelope System”, which involves assigning specific amounts of money to different spending categories (like licensing fees, cloud-based storage, subscriptions of all kinds, etc.), or the “Zero-based budget” that requires you to account for every single penny you spend. Nevertheless, when it comes to software development, these might not be enough. 

The traditional approach to budgeting assumes that all projects can be planned and executed linearly, with predictable costs and results. But software development can be anything but predictable; it’s an iterative process, where changes and improvements are constantly being made based on feedback. This means that software development teams need to be able to adapt their plans on the fly, which can make it difficult to stay within a fixed budget. In addition, the rapid pace of change in the technology industry means that teams often have to scrap their plans and start from scratch if they want to stay ahead of the competition.

Whichever approach you decide to use, the important thing is that you start budgeting for your development expenses now; 2023 is around the corner, and with it comes a new year of projects and innovations to look for. As always, software organizations of all kinds will be looking to stay within their budget while delivering quality products, with some basic tips that can help you to do so:

• Use an agile development methodology. This will allow you to break the project down into smaller pieces and deliver them incrementally, which can help to control costs.
• Make use of open-source software. Many high-quality open-source options can save you money on licenses and support fees.
• Take advantage of cloud computing. Cloud-based solutions can be a cost-effective option for hosting and running your software.

But beyond these common-sense suggestions, the correct approach of an organization to budget for a software development project depends on a variety of unique challenges and goals. So, we’d like to present some budgeting techniques that can ensure that your software project stays on track, making a positive outcome more likely for any software enterprise. For example…

• Bottom-up estimating: This is a great way to avoid any surprises when it comes time for your team’s final budget. Essentially, it’s about working closely with the team and examining each step of the project to the most minute detail, to ensure that you have all the important information laid out to create an accurate roadmap. This process helps ensure no hurdles come up later down the road, which ultimately saves money by having fewer unexpected costs associated with these «known problems» during development. 

• Top-down estimating: Top-down estimating is a more efficient way to budget for large projects. By looking at the scope as an entire entity, you can identify which tasks will take up most of your time or resources without having any uncertainty between them. This allows us to estimate costs with greater accuracy than the “bottom-up” technique, allowing an organization to know exactly what work needs to be done first. The key difference between “Top-down” and “Bottom-Up” estimating lies in how much detail goes into each stage: With the top-down method, all elements must be defined upfront. However, some flexibility when deciding upon specific costs should remain.

• Analogous estimating: A great way to get an idea about how much your project will cost when you don’t have enough data for the upcoming task. This technique only works because it relies on previous projects as references, so keeping its accuracy depends largely upon what information there was available from those jobs. That’s why reports, notes, feedback, and the information collected in project management systems can be so valuable to implement, allowing tracking of internal costs and reviewing past work while informing future scope decisions all at once, making sure every penny counts.

Final words

It’s no secret that software projects can be costly. All too often, companies find themselves over budget and behind schedule, scrambling to contain the costs of their project. However, with a few strategies like the ones we just mentioned, costs can be kept under control. However, there’s no better strategy to plan your software development budget than managing expectations about the outcomes, clearly communicating the scope of the project and what will be delivered at each stage. 

This will help your organization to avoid scope creep and ensure that everyone is on the same page from the start. By following these simple strategies, companies can ensure that their software projects stay on budget coming 2023.

The Key Takeaways

• The software industry, alongside the rest of the technology sector, will have a challenging 2023, for a variety of reasons.
• One of the crucial elements of any company’s success is budgeting projects and operations sensibly, ensuring that an organization can meet all the goals it needs.
• However, software development can be somewhat finicky when it comes to planning, so traditional approaches to budgeting might not cut it out; rather, a holistic view of the whole process can be the right way to plan any expense.
• It’s important to keep in mind past approaches in order to understand where the biggest challenges might come when budgeting for the new year.

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!