This is my experience.
This is the time frame of my projects. I had developed some projects overnight, some in weeks, some in months, and one in years.
Some had been planned, designed and executed in my mind even before started coding. Some had been started immediately after I had got the idea without any planning.
IMHO, nobody talks about your way of programming. They talk only about the end product. For them, software is just a BLACK BOX (as we call it in Systems Auditing) in which some input is given and some output is got.
Once I started thinking about the requirement of a new software/utility (before that I ask many questions viz., Can't I do with Excel?, Is there an open source software already for this problem? Any tailor made commercial utility/software?) I plan for the DB requirement. My choices are text/ini based, dbf based, sql based.
This can be decided by analyzing the nature of the requirement like pure logical (my Interest(ing) Calculator), procedural (transport/logistics management software), modular (ERP software), record maintenance (License/address book software) etc., Some problems might require a blend of these approaches.
In HMG, I have my own standard procedures for data entry forms (for entering repetitive lines of an invoice with data validation), report generation (accepted by HMG community as 'gridprint') etc., All my software projects could utilize the same coding/logic.
I visualize each and every window in the software in advance, I use IDE only to compile a project. All my codings are personally typed by me. I use alternative syntax for defining all the controls.
My main window is sized mostly in 4:3 ratio. I prefer main window size of 1024 x 768 and sometimes 800 x 600. I had developed a project with my main window 1280 x 1024
which had a HUGE working space and could be run in a 17" 4:3 monitors!
I plan other windows in three size ratios. They are, 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 (recently). Square type (ie., 1:1) windows are useful for calculators, input box of not more than three variables, windows without any grids etc.). 4:3 is somewhat standard size.
I place the controls with relative data in a line. (for example, I place invoice number and invoice date in a single line.) My controls are always of HMG standard font, size and height except Grids/listboxes where in I mention the height according to the requirement. My control line width is 30. (for example if for the first line of controls I use "row 10" for the next line of controls I use "row 40"). Also, I pack the window very tight with the controls leaving very little extra space. This will enable the user to move lesser distance while moving around the window.
Don't think it is a silly thing. This I had seen in all the MS windows dialogs.
I think I'm boring you... Will continue if you like.
. In my very humble opinion, a project is a collection of problems (here I am using the term "problem" in positive sense), which needs our attention to solve 
