Project Management Principles and Practices

Principles and Practices (part 1 of 2)

• Plan and outline a possiblecapstone project.

Project Management (part 2 of 2)

• Read, sign (add your name) the student agreement, and upload it to your repository.
• Follow a Git tutorial.
• Create a personal webpage in the class file where you describe yourself and your final project. Check out the class material for examples.
• Upload parts 1 and 2 to the class file.

Objective of the Week

The objective of this week was to plan and structure the final project, clearly defining the idea, the problem to be solved, the components of the system and the development and documentation strategy.

During this stage I developed the proposal of theEco Smart Pot, a system capable of monitoring soil moisture and assisting the user in plant care through sensors, electronic processing and visual and sound alerts.

In addition, this week allowed:

• Define the initial system architecture
• Identify the main electronic components
• Organize the project workflow
• Plan the work and documentation stages
• Implement the use of Git and GitLab for version control
• Create and customize the web page where the entire process of the final project will be documented

The main purpose was to transform an initial idea into a structured, viable and technically planned project, laying the foundations for the development of the following weeks at Fab Academy.

• Materials and Equipment

📋 Documents developed

• Planning the final project
• Schedule of activities
• Definition of objectives
• Task management
• Website development
• Progress documentation
• Initial presentation of the project

My Process

Principles and Practices of Project Management

Final Project Idea

During this stage, the proposal of my final project was defined and structured, aimed at solving a real need through the use of digital fabrication and system integration.

💡 Project: Smart Pot

The project consists of the development of asmart pot capable of monitoring soil moisture and assisting the user in the proper care of the plants through visual and audible alerts.

The system integrates sensors, a microcontroller (XIAO ESP32-C3), a visual interface (OLED screen) and an alert system, allowing an everyday activity to be transformed into an automated and efficient process.

👉 The aim is to optimise plant irrigation, avoiding both excess and lack of water, through a simple, functional and accessible technological solution.

Project Sketch

Target User

The system is designed for users who require a practical plant care solution without the need for advanced gardening knowledge.

Target audience:

• People with little experience in plant care
• Users with busy routines who can't constantly monitor irrigation
• Students or those interested in technology applied to the home

The smart pot is intended as an accessible, educational and easy-to-use product, which simplifies the care process through a clear interaction between the user and the system.

How the System Works

The system operates using sequential logic that allows interaction between the environment (plant) and the user through integrated electronic devices.

Operating logic:

• Moisture sensor detects the water level in the soil
• The microcontroller (XIAO ESP32-C3) processes the received signal
• The state of the plant (wet/dry) is interpreted
• Information is displayed on the OLED screen
• An audible alert is triggered when the humidity level is low

This flow allows a clear, automatic and understandable interaction for the user, facilitating decision-making on irrigation.

System diagram

The image should clearly show:

• Linear flow of the system
• Connection between major components

Recommended representation:
Sensor → XIAO → OLED + Alerta

Key rule:

• No long text
• Blocks + arrows only
• Clean and easy to understand design

Project Components

The system is composed of a set of electronic, physical and structural elements that work in an integrated manner to fulfill the functionality of the project.

Main components:

• XIAO ESP32-C3 Microcontroller: in charge of data processing and system control
• Soil moisture sensor: input device that measures the moisture level of the substrate
• OLED display: visual interface showing plant status
• Buzzer module: Output system that emits audible alerts
• Electronic components: resistors, cables, PCBs, and connections required for circuit operation
• Physical structure: pot designed in CAD, which integrates and protects all components

👉 Each element fulfills a specific function within the system, allowing the correct interaction between input, processing and output.

Project Design

To ensure efficient system integration, a CAD design was developed that allows all components within the pot to be strategically arranged.

This design not only responds to aesthetic criteria, but also functional ones, ensuring protection, accessibility and correct distribution of electronic elements.

Design Considerations:

• Defined space for the PCB and microcontroller
• Organized routes for internal wiring
• Visible and accessible location of the OLED screen
• Separation between the wet area (plant) and the electronic zone
• Accessibility for maintenance and possible improvements

This approach demonstrates intentional design, where each component has a planned location based on its function within the system.

Website Development

For the documentation of the project, a personal website was developed, which allows the organization, visualization and presentation of the entire development process in a structured way.

The site was created using web development tools along with version control, ensuring orderly change management and continuous content publishing.

Project Management

Prerequisites

1. Install Git according to your operating system from thislink. This will be necessary for the next steps.
2. Install the text editor of your choice; in this case, I'll use Visual Studio Code for its better integration with Git. You can download it from thislink.
3. Generate an access token from your GitLab account. You can use thislink to access directly.

Settings

Set up Visual Studio Code

First, you need to set up the remote connection to GitLab. To do this, we will use the previously created access token and enter the remote connection. Also, we need to copy the clone URL provided by the GitHub platform.

If everything is correct, we can run the git status command in Git Bash, installed on our computer, and verify that the connection has been established correctly.

Configure Git

Before you can use the Git extension with Visual Studio Code, you need to set the "user.name" and "user.email" parameters in the Git settings from the cloned folder.

4. Set username:
   git config user.name "FIRST_NAME LAST_NAME"
5. Configurar correo electrónico:
   git config user.email "MY_EMAIL@example.com"
6. Verify your configuration by displaying your configuration file::
   git config --listocat .git/config

Application Development

Template

In this case, I decided to download and customize my ownfreehtml5 template and chosethis one.

Code and deploy

To deploy new versions of the website, we use the previously configured git extension.

If everything is correct, we can run git logGit Bash to see all the commits in GitLab. This is optional, as Visual Studio Code also displays the result of your commit.

To log in to GitLab Fabcloud

Data

• GIT PULL ; Synchronize our original repository with the local repository by transferring the data and files, if there are any changes.
• GIT ADD ; The git add command adds content to our work page.
• GIT COMMIT ; It makes shape changes instantaneous and can be viewed as secure versions of our website.
• GIT PUSH ; It helps us so that once we have the files ready for your changes, we have to send them to a server so that the code is available on the network.

Problems and Solutions

Problem 1: Difficulty in defining a viable project idea

Solution: An analysis of daily needs was carried out and the Eco Smart Pot was defined as a functional and achievable solution, integrating electronics, programming and digital manufacturing.

Problem 2: Lack of organization in project planning

Solution: A work schedule, task list, and system diagrams were developed to organize the progressive development of the final project.

Problem 3: Problems in the initial configuration of Git and GitLab

Solution: The user, email and access token were correctly configured in Git, allowing synchronization of the local repository with GitLab and management of website versions.

Problem 4: Difficulty in structuring the personal website

Solution: A custom HTML template was used and the content was organized by weeks, facilitating clear documentation of the project and the activities carried out.

Problem 5: Properly integrating system logic

Solution:
A simple diagram of the system flow was developed:
Sensor → XIAO ESP32-C3 → OLED + Buzzer ,
allowing a better understanding of the interaction between input, processing and output.

Problem 6: Organizing Files and Images for Documentation

Solution: Optimized and organized images within the Git repository to keep documentation tidy and compatible with the web page.

Lessons learned:

• Define a clear and actionable idea
• Correctly identify the target user
• Structuring a functional system from its logic
• Organize the development process progressively

This approach made it possible to transform an initial idea into a concrete proposal, aligning the technical with a real need.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I have to work in Git if I already know it?

Answer:
You don't need to repeat the tutorial from scratch, but you do need to demonstrate in your repository that you're using Git to document your final project: commits, website updates, and version control of the Eco Smart Pot.

2. What should be included in this week's final project description?

Answer:
It should include youridea of the Eco Smart Pot, asketch of the system (sensor → XIAO → OLED + buzzer) and a short paragraph explaining how it works and the problem it solves (plant care by humidity).

3. What am I developing at this stage of the course?

Answer:
I am developing the final project planning, which includes the definition of the Eco Smart Pot, its basic architecture, the electronic components, the system flow, and the organization of the work in Git and the website.

4. What tools should I use to document my project?

Answer:
I should use Git/GitLab for version control, Visual Studio Code for editing the website, and a personal page where I document the final project, including progress, diagrams, and system description.

5. Can I use a web template for my project page?

Answer:
Yes, I can use a template, but I need to customize it for my Eco Smart Pot project and document the changes made to the website's code and design.

6. Where should I save my photos and files?

Answer:
All evidence of the project must be within the Git repository. The images should be compressed and organized, as they are part of the evaluation of the Eco Smart Pot process.

7. What does my project website need to prove?

Answer:
It should show the Eco Smart Pot planning, the system design, the flow of the operation, the components used, and the documented step-by-step development process.

8. What am I learning this week?

Answer:
I'm learning how to plan a real technology project, define the problem, structure the system (sensor, microcontroller, and outputs), and document it correctly using Git and a web page.

9. What is the objective of this stage?

Answer:
Transform the idea of the Eco Smart Pot into a structured, documented and organized project, ready for technical development in the coming weeks.