I think you'll come to find that aside from every-day components (caps, resistors, voltage regulators, etc), most of your projects will end up using *some* sort of specialized part.

Unless you are running a small business, you're wasting your time with any database.

My reccomendation - sure, combine caps, resistors, LEDs, etc, into either those 50-drawer wall-mount storage bins (for leaded), or 'bug' cases with the little flip-top lids (as mentioned above) for SMT parts.

Otherwise, organize specialized parts via 'project' boxes - keep all of the unique parts with the project. You'll remember "hey, I used a nice D/A converter on that retro-redbox", go to the box, dig out the original pkg, blamo, the part number you need to lookup specs.

Keep a small dry-erase board near your 'warehouse' to jot down part #'s as they become low - when you've accumulated enough parts to justify an order, they're all there in one place.

Hi OP,

I'm a developer/Engineer for two biotech companies: one a small startup, with me being the only part-time employee. The other is a large DOD-backed institution. I can tell you that in the short time that I've been there, it has been a frustrating uphill battle to instill an Engineering/Developer mindset. While I firmly believe Scientists and Engineers seems to have a similar approach to work, it's interesting to see how passive the science-minded folks are towards hardware/software advancements. They are only concerned about how many protein cells it can accurately count, or whatever. There is no interest in what goes on 'behind the scenes', and consequently, what goes on to get there.

There are absolutely no Engineering controls in place at either Employer, and software development is as you said: made for the moment. Personally since I am the one-and-only, I find that I just have to do the best with what I have. I comment and doccument well, keep a code revision repository, and do my best(within reason) to make sure someone else can pick up where I left off.

It won't be my problem if/when the day comes I leave, but at least I'll be able to sleep at night.