The prototype is not complete and I have already started work on a new branch that goes in an entirely new direction. I am doing this because the prototype has already served its purpose, and the next step on this journey is to prepare a solid foundation for the “actual” product.

As I hinted earlier, I will use the CakePHP framework. This is the step that currently concerns me: getting the framework up and running, adjusting my tools, my processes, and my work habits.

Most of all though, it’s a giant leap for me to switch from procedural programming to object-oriented programming. While I understand the principles of OOP, it is new to me in practice; a novice can easily get confused about syntax (so many arrows!), scopes, and all that jazz.

All this to say that there isn’t much to see on the outside, but there’s plenty of reading and typing behind the scenes. Building the prototype anew using OOP would be trivial to a pro. For me, it’s going to take a while. And I am sure it will be worth it for me. Besides being a fun idea, this is a learning experience for me.