This is my personal list of learnings from vtigercrm-5.0.0 release. Feel free to add to this.
Should focus on usability
Should focus on UI
UI changes take time and time must be allocated towards this area much well in advance
Entire UI revamp in a short time is a very very bad idea
Do not let negative pressure to develop, defuse it asap. The release is not worth loss of team-spirit
Good to have positive pressure for some duration only. Do not let it become an obsession.
Get 5 minute meetings done if required to have a meeting in the first place.
Observe each team member for pressure/depression symptoms. If you have, you better act fast!
Be maniacal about quality
Break the rules if need be.
Get the community to join in at the very outset. The community is not an after-thought, it is THE thought.
Agree to disagree but make it known too.
Agree if mistakes are made and rectify them. No need to burn energy in defending some crap.
Stand and explain your ground if you feel that you are in the right ground, but be polite.
Let not your frustration affect team spirit. Take it 1 on 1 and in a gentle manner. Remember, the team is more important than an individual.
Keep advance information running 30×7 as things are very very fluid
Development is not a fixed process. It is inherently dynamic. Accept that and b willing to backtrack if need be. Do not hold on to your words/ego, not worth the heartburns caused.
Own up for screw ups and fix them. This will lead to maturity and respect.
Take risks eg Tag, Chat. You never know what will work as ppl do not themselves know what they need!
Keep proper docs and have a clear physical and logical demarcation among them.
Never assume that things will work out well. If things can go wrong, they will – relax that is one of the laws of nature. We are engineers, problem-solvers.
