The Indie Dev’s Guide to Choosing Devlogs vs. Design Docs
The Indie Dev’s Guide to Choosing Devlogs vs. Design Docs
Dev Diary: The Devlog Disasters
Entry 1: My first devlog was a mess. I treated it like a personal diary, rambling about my morning coffee before getting to game updates. It was too much fluff, not enough substance, and my audience quickly drifted away. Lesson learned: a devlog needs focus.
Entry 2: Consistency was another struggle. I’d post updates sporadically, then disappear for weeks. Losing audience interest was inevitable. A “game development log” needs a schedule, even if it’s just a weekly summary.
Entry 3: The hype train nearly derailed my project. I over-promised features that never materialized, leading to disappointment and a loss of trust. Under-delivering after hyping is a surefire way to alienate your community.
Entry 4: I ignored feedback, thinking my vision was sacrosanct. Devlogs should be a conversation, not a monologue. Failing to listen meant missing valuable insights and potential improvements for my “game dev journal.”
Entry 5: My devlog lacked a clear purpose. Was it for marketing? Accountability? Community building? Without defining what I wanted it to achieve, it just became busywork. Understand your “why” to “track game development progress” effectively.
Dev Diary: Design Doc Dilemmas
Entry 6: My initial design docs were monuments of over-engineering. Too much detail too early stifled iteration and made pivoting a nightmare. Sometimes, less is more, especially in early stages.
Entry 7: Conversely, I also made the mistake of under-specifying. Not enough detail led to miscommunication and rework. Finding the right balance is key to ensuring everyone is on the same page.
Entry 8: My design docs became stagnant, relics of an earlier vision. Not updating them as the project evolved meant they quickly became irrelevant. A design doc must be a living document, evolving with your game.
Entry 9: I stored documents in obscure folders, making them hard for team members to find or understand. Lack of accessibility crippled collaboration. Make your documentation easy to access and digest.
Entry 10: I didn’t treat my design document as a tool for ongoing development. It should evolve with your game, reflecting changes and new insights. It’s not a one-time creation; it’s a continuous reference.
Dev Diary: Choosing Your Path (or Combining Them)
Entry 11: Project size and complexity dictate your needs. For a small, solo project, a detailed design doc might be overkill. For larger, more complex games, it becomes essential to “track game development progress.”
Entry 12: Team size and communication needs are crucial. A solo developer might manage with a robust “game dev journal,” but a team requires a structured design document for clarity and alignment.
Entry 13: Consider your marketing goals. Is your devlog primarily a development tool or a marketing tool? Or both? This influences its content and frequency.
Entry 14: Personal workflow and preferences matter. What feels natural and sustainable for you? Forcing a method that doesn’t fit your style will lead to burnout and inconsistency.
Dev Diary: Actionable Steps & Best Practices
Entry 15: Define your “why” for documentation. Are you aiming to build a community, maintain project clarity, or just keep yourself accountable? This purpose will guide your choices.
Entry 16: Outline minimum viable devlog and design doc elements. For devlogs, this might be weekly progress updates and a feature highlight. For design docs, it could be core mechanics and a high-level plot. Don’t overdo it initially.
Entry 17: Establish a consistent update schedule. Whether it’s a weekly devlog or a monthly design doc review, consistency builds habits and keeps your audience engaged.
Entry 18: Integrate documentation into your development sprint. Make it a regular part of your workflow, not an afterthought. This ensures your “game development log” stays current.
Entry 19: Be ready to pivot if your current approach isn’t working. Documentation isn’t set in stone. If your devlog feels like a chore or your design doc isn’t serving its purpose, adjust your strategy. To help you maintain consistency and easily pivot, consider using a dedicated tool. A good journaling tool can help you structure your thoughts, track progress, and even generate reports. For a simple way to keep your dev notes organized and accessible, check out our game dev journal. It’s designed to help you avoid common pitfalls and keep your “game dev journal” a living, breathing part of your development process.