Start with the End in Mind: A Checklist for Project Success

Over the years, I’ve set up numerous repositories and projects, learning from both successes and mistakes along the way. Through trial and error, I’ve developed a checklist that helps me avoid common pitfalls and ensures a smooth start for any project. Below, I share the 15 key practices I rely on—plus the gotchas I’ve learned to dodge—to set up a repository for success. Take a look and let me know what you think!

Laying the Foundation

Starting a project on the right foot means thinking ahead about structure, clarity, and collaboration. These initial steps create a solid base, reducing friction as the project grows and ensuring everyone can hit the ground running.

1. Logical Folder Structure: Decide early whether the project will live in one large repository or be split into multiple smaller ones, based on its scope and team needs.
2. Naming Conventions: Standardize file and branch names for consistency, such as `feat/qa-login` or `fix/bug-123`, to make navigation intuitive.
3. Detailed READMEs: Write comprehensive guides explaining each section’s purpose and structure, ensuring the repository is more than just a code dump.

Establishing Workflow and Governance

A well-defined workflow keeps the team aligned and the project on track. These practices focus on protecting the codebase, streamlining collaboration, and ensuring quality at every step.

1. Protected Branches: Lock `main` and `staging` branches to require pull requests and approvals, preventing unvetted changes from breaking the build.
2. Branching Strategy: Define clear flows for features, hotfixes, and releases (e.g., `feature/`, `hotfix/`), to maintain an organized development process.
3. Commit Message Rules: Enforce a consistent format like `type/scope: description` (e.g., `feat/auth: add login tests`) for clarity and traceability.
4. Collaborative Setup: Get QA, dev, and ops to agree on workflows upfront, ensuring everyone understands their role in the process.

Automating and Optimizing Processes

Automation and thoughtful scheduling can save time and catch issues early. These steps focus on integrating tools and processes that keep the project running smoothly, even as it scales.

1. CI/CD Pipeline Integration: Tie GitHub to automated tests on every push or set up nightly runs, deciding when and how often to run them based on project needs.
2. Timezone Awareness: Set CI/CD triggers to align with team hours and document the schedule, ensuring transparency and avoiding off-hour disruptions.
3. Pull Request Templates: Add checklists for QA, code review, and documentation to ensure thorough reviews and consistent standards.
4. Code Review Schedule: Establish when code reviews should happen to avoid stale PRs and reduce errors during rebasing.

Prioritizing Quality and Scalability

Building for the long term means prioritizing quality, manageability, and scalability from the start. These practices help maintain a healthy codebase and a productive team dynamic.

1. Bug Prioritization Framework: Set rules to tackle blockers (crashes, security issues) first, then high-impact user-facing issues, and finally nice-to-haves.
2. Feature Story Sizing: Keep stories small, aiming for 1-3 days of work max, and break epics into bite-sized chunks for manageable progress.
3. Linting/Code Standards: Enforce standards early with tools like ESLint to maintain consistency and catch issues before they escalate.
4. Dependency Management: Lock versions in a `package.json` or similar file, and define a clear process for when and how to handle version updates.

Starting with the end in mind means setting up your project to succeed from day one. These 15 practices—born from years of experience and lessons learned—help avoid common pitfalls, cut friction, and get things rolling quickly. By focusing on structure, collaboration, automation, and quality, you’ll create a repository that not only works today but scales for tomorrow. I’d love to hear your thoughts—what would you add to this checklist?