I do not know about any one else but I seem to use a combination of pen & paper, various different pieces of software, such as mind mapping, general diagramming inc. UML, Excel, and ToDo lists.
I find that a combination of things facilitate my brain usage differently, and therefore I can never just use a single tool. My previous job involved me maintaining a 150K Perl system, and then adding new features on top, while fixing the bugs of the existing system. I am sure some people understand how much a single line of Perl can do.
I am the same as you Krono, always start by fleshing-out the idea on paper first, use a host of different apps to build my app. Not too bad at graphics but often need help from my more artistically minded daughter.
IdeasVacuum
If it sounds simple, you have not grasped the complexity.
A habit worth developing is keeping a diary of all your working notes, and ideas for future projects, rather than use scraps of paper which ultimately get lost or thrown away.
It's a habit I picked up during my days at the IBM research lab in Toronto. We were required to commit all our thoughts and working notes to paper in approved notebooks that had pre-numbered pages. We had to write in ink, nothing could be erased, and pages could not be removed.
These days I'm a little less formal. Here in Canada, the Hilroy notebooks commonly used by high school students are good for the job. They have lined letter-size paper, and from 100 to 300 pages.
I find it very useful to be able to look back over 30 years worth of notes -- to see what I did, and why. It helps keep me focused on my long term objectives.
For ten years Caesar ruled with an iron hand, then with a wooden foot, and finally with a piece of string.
~ Spike Milligan
More people should take pictures of their setups! I'd take one of mine, but it's boring looking. Plus my homemade crap is laughable.
Only interesting piece of equipment would be my very suave cm mechanical keyboard with cherry mx blue switches.
I should do a before n after picture comparison maybe
