Disclosure: I am involved in the project discussed in this article. I am sharing the content-modeling lessons behind it rather than presenting this as an independent review.
The first version of a fortune application is usually built around an array of strings:
javascript
const fortunes = [
"A new relationship may begin soon.",
"Be patient and wait for the right moment.",
"Someone may be thinking about you."
];
const result =
fortunes[Math.floor(Math.random() * fortunes.length)];
This is enough for a prototype. It is also where many fortune applications stop.
But a Japanese 恋みくじ —a love-focused form of omikuji—needs more than a collection of interchangeable messages.
A visitor may be thinking about unrequited love, reconciliation, a delayed reply, a long-distance relationship, or a new encounter. A result that feels appropriate in one situation may feel careless or confusing in another.
Once the number of results grows, a flat string array becomes difficult
Discussion
Jump in and comment!
Get the ball rolling with your comment!