Please Note: the point of this post is not to pitch my site, but rather to provide some of the lessons learned and hopefully spark some interesting discussion.
Flickrup allows people to submit flickr photos and vote on them.
The idea with Flickrup! was to launch a working, stable site as fast as possible. The idea I had when I started working on the site was to be as minimalist as possible in regards to design, code complexity (frontend and backend), db schema design and user authentication to name a few. I also wanted it to be ridiculously easy to submit and vote on photos. So here are some of the things I did.
frontend design:
I used a css framework (blueprint) to assist in creating a grid based layout and also utilized all the predefined styles for elements. Instead of creating my own css classes and ending up with a cluttered mess, I forced my self to use the classes defined in blueprint as often as possible.
I didn't waste time making a logo. The logo is simply a text link to the frontpage.
I didn't clutter the frontpage with flashy css based buttons and login/signup links everywhere. Instead, when someone hovers over a vote link, a css popup comes up which allows them to vote anonymously or using the flickr account.
I didn't waste time setting up a blog for the site.
backend design:
No brainer: I used a well known php framework (codeigniter) and forced myself to use as many classes and helpers they had to offer including: (pagination, session control, url helper, captcha, date helper)
I had a problem that needed some solvin' and I was greatly tempted to roll my own solution, but I searched until I found an already existing one.
Database:
I have four tables. That's it. Photos, sessions, users and votes.
Authentication:
There isn't an ugly login/signup link to be found on the frontpage and it doesn't need one. Logging in is inconspicuously placed in the flow of voting and submitting.
You don't have to sign up to use the service. You can vote and submit anonymously. It's true that you can vote for a photo as many times as you want as an anonymous user, but so what? If someone wants to spend their precious time painstakingly figuring out the captcha a dozen times to fluf their votes, who cares?
