On the 11th Chapter of the Getting Real E-Book, it discusses about Words. It is basically about specifications and documentations that comes around when making web applications.
When doing paperworks in developing web applications, those who are going to write should remember that there’s nothing functional about a functional spec. It is said so because at the end, the users wouldn’t even bother reading it. Finished functional specs would be something very different with the finished product because they do not reflect reality. They are fantasies which the writer wants instead of what the writer have. Functional specs also makes people very disorganized and inaccurate in decision making. It is much better to make a working prototype instead of writing a theory based functional specifications.
It is said that don’t do dead documents which means people making web applications should not produce a document which will not form into reality. It is much preferred for them to build rather than to write because building something through codes is much productive compared to writing about something that might not even be possible to achieve.
While explaining new concepts or features of a web application it is much preferred to tell a quick story rather than putting technical stuffs that might get the end-users very frustrated. Those who are explaining the concepts and features should use the concepts and features as a bridge or channel for which to communicate with the users like a normal conversation.
Then it is said to use real words rather than using the infamous Lorem Ipsum. It is much better to type in real words rather than copying and pasting the information to the website or application. It will help the developer to do as the customers do because it will let the developer understand what the customers think and do which in time will let the developer produce a much better interface.
The final thing that was discussed on this chapter is that web developers should personify their product. They should distinguish what type of personality their product has and from that information, they can build up their website much effectively. They can base their themes and features from what personality they based their products from.
