= !BluePrint - Guidelines = 

We use [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blueprint BluePrints] to capture ideas, features, requirements and design options for Sahana Eden components. These can either be a simple collection of rough ideas about features you need or formal documentation following our [wiki:BluePrint/Guidelines/Template BluePrint Template]. You can review our existing [wiki:BluePrints BluePrints] to contribute to one of these or create a new !BluePrint at [wiki:"BluePrint/<NameOfYourIdea/Feature/Requirement>" http://eden.sahanafoundation.org/wiki/BluePrint/<Name of your Idea / Feature / Requirement>].

This can start with a simple [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_story User Story] (or a full [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_case Use Case]). These can be simple stories which describe how Sahana Eden could be used in different scenarios.

A good User Story should answer the following questions:
* Who the user is 
* What they want the application to do for them?
* Why they want it to do that? (Purpose)

'''A <type of user> wants the system to <do something for them> so that <can achieve a goal>.'''

More information:
 - [http://mekongict.org/2010/06/user-oriented-design/ User-Oriented Design]
 - [http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/activity-centered_design_why_i_like_my_harmony_remote_control.html Activity-Centered Design]

It can then be mocked-up using [http://webstyleguide.com/wsg3/10-forms-and-applications/4-design-process.html Wireframes] or other diagrams (a picture tells a thousand words), using tools like:
  - '''[http://code.google.com/p/evoluspencil Evolus Pencil]''' (FOSS, also as Add-on for Firefox 3.5+, GPL2)
    - Install Pencil as Firefox Add-on directly from [http://code.google.com/p/evoluspencil/downloads/detail?name=Pencil-1.2-0-fx.xpi here]
  - [http://live.gnome.org/Dia Dia] (FOSS, GPL)
  - [http://balsamiq.com Balsamiq] (non-OSS, US$79)
  - [http://doc.google.com GoogleDoc]'s new Drawing functionality

!BluePrints can be used by yourself or other contributors to:
 - develop and evaluate solutions
 - develop [wiki:Projects] for others to work on  
 - develop [wiki:DeveloperGuidelinesTesting test cases]
 - write documentation
 - write documentation
 - write documentation