I know this is a fairly personal question, but I'm curious. I have been working on a project for a while and I have a fully functional version of it that works pretty well.
I have a couple revisions of PCBs already. The current version is just not as efficient or "professional" as it could be. I could eliminate components that aren't necessary anymore, integrate modules into the board, convert it to be almost completely SMD, fix the PCB footprint so it makes more sense, make it slightly more energy efficient, etc. I have enough personal notes to majorly rework the project, likely introducing problems and needing multiple new board revisions to get it right...
I'm worried that if I keep putting time and money into it and "fixing" it, I'll never be done with it. When do you think a project should be "good enough"? It's not being sold, it's just for my use in another non-electronics project.
My thought was that maybe I just consider this a version that's "done", since it is fully functional. If I ever want to fix it up and make it better, it'll be easy enough to get back into working on it. I also feel a little embarrassed by how imperfect it is, so I don't want to show it off to anyone knowledgeable, bit I'm proud of creating it regardless... it's definitely the most significant electronics project I've ever attempted.
I just wanted other peoples' take on what they would do.
Thank you.
You have probably heard the expression, “better is the enemy of good”. But, it is more complicated than that and your post reveals a lot about how you feel about the project.
On the one hand you say that it is fully functional, but on the other, you are worried about putting more time and money into it and "fixing" it forever.
You are embarrassed by how imperfect it is, and don’t want to show it off to anyone knowledgeable, but you are proud of creating it.
You are done with the project and you should be proud of the accomplishment. Give yourself the credit that you deserve.
You should also understand that creating something that does not meet your ideal does not mean that you have compromised your standards. NOT when it is for your personal use.
You have said that it is by far your most sophisticated electronic project…but wait until the next one eh?
This is one project and you will move onto the next one having learned more. You will never create a perfect project – if you ever think you have done so, ask me to criticize it
You don’t want to fall into the habit of the chronic disgruntled gambler. When they pick the winning horse, they whine that they should have had the exacta. When they have the exacta, they whine that they should have had the trifecta…then the superfecta and the pick 6 and all of them…then they go home broke.
You can feel good about making something that works, or you can feel bad that you made something that is not as good as you wanted it to be.
Suppose you are the parent of a 5 year old, how would you tell the child to feel regarding that choice? Get it?
BTW: I have a little project hanging on my wall....it works...it looks like a 5-year old made it...I show it to people...It still looks like a 5-year old made it but they have no idea how they could do it. I have more than one of these projects...I 'm not embarrassed. I just keep moving on and hope that I can continue to get better....and if I show it to someone who knows more, then I start picking their brain to help me get better.