This is pretty darn old but I would like to add to it regardless.

I'm not sure what standards most people follow but my way doesn't seem to be all that bad either lol.

I basically have an idea pop in my head and I start making it, I think about what will go into it (beside some basics) as I go, same with any software and games.

Like uhh, if I wanted to make the allmighty, overdone mp3 player, i'd think of the basic things to do, do them, then think up the rest and do them (well iv'e done it before so it seems to work for me lol).

Iv'e never gone for this "plan everything ahead" thing, don't have the time for it and i'd hate to waste all that time planning instead of programming and learning by actually doing something , cause in the end if I think about it too much It might not be worth it.