Topics In Demand
Notification
New

No notification found.

What are the Benefits of Prototyping in Software Engineering?
What are the Benefits of Prototyping in Software Engineering?

April 21, 2022

263

0


Listen to this article



Software prototyping is a well-known software development methodology that provides us with confidence during product planning and development.

Often, people avoid prototyping as they do not want to spend time creating and trashing multiple prototypes.

On the other hand, prototype-based modeling helps visualize ideas, giving them shape and form. This makes it easier to understand by clients and concerned stakeholders alike.

This last part is important.

Trying to convey an idea or requirement to a developer or a team is difficult. Ideas, risks, and subtle details can be lost in transmission and translation.

This is why prototyping is so important — it keeps everyone on the same page and increases the odds of a project’s success.

Three Phases of Prototyping

1. Identify core requirements

Before we begin prototyping, we must first identify the basic requirement or core requirement of the idea we want to present in the prototype.

This core requirement should not be detailed and must only include those specifics that help your client understand the product.

A few things to avoid from being included at this early stage are requirements like security, performance, error handling, etc.

2. Develop an initial prototype

Since the initial prototype is simplified, writing detailed code for the prototypes is redundant.

Instead, we focus on the UI/UX during this phase.

3. Review and enhance the prototype

In this final phase of prototyping, we further understand and analyze our prototype. Once the initial prototype is ready, it can help us refine our design or idea more.

Types of Prototyping

1. Rapid prototyping

Also called Throwaway prototyping, this type of prototyping focuses on the visual aspects of the software’s functionality. The goal here is to give your client a visual representation of the solution he or she is looking for.

This has the advantage of quickly gaining feedback and approval from a client and speeding up the process of design and requirement finalization.

Mockups are a good example of this type of prototyping.

2. Evolutionary prototyping

In this type of prototyping, a prototype is refined step-by-step based on feedback received from a client or concerned stakeholders.

Evolutionary prototyping is useful in situations where requirements are unclear during the initial stages or when every feature or interaction must be checked once.

3. Extreme prototyping

Extreme prototyping is mostly used during the creation of web applications. This type of prototyping has three sequential steps. First, HTML designs are created.

Then, data processing on the app is checked. Finally, the features being designed are implemented into the final prototype.

When to use prototyping

  • When there are many user interactions involved, and
  • When creating web applications having multiple transactions.

When to avoid prototyping

  • In backend systems, where data processing is involved;
  • In security systems where machines interact with each other;
  • In systems that only do batch processing and calculations.

Conclusion

It is always advisable to understand requirements first by spending time on prototyping. Prototypes help business analysts, developers, and solution architects understand the core requirements of a project before development begins.

Author — Ram Bahadur Singh, DLT Labs™

About the Author — Ram brings several years of experience in various domains, including security, e-commerce, and e-learning. He focuses on providing the best user experience to end-users in the end product.


References:

http://dlinsin.blogspot.com/2006/11/extreme-prototyping.html
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/308724


That the contents of third-party articles/blogs published here on the website, and the interpretation of all information in the article/blogs such as data, maps, numbers, opinions etc. displayed in the article/blogs and views or the opinions expressed within the content are solely of the author's; and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of NASSCOM or its affiliates in any manner. NASSCOM does not take any liability w.r.t. content in any manner and will not be liable in any manner whatsoever for any kind of liability arising out of any act, error or omission. The contents of third-party article/blogs published, are provided solely as convenience; and the presence of these articles/blogs should not, under any circumstances, be considered as an endorsement of the contents by NASSCOM in any manner; and if you chose to access these articles/blogs , you do so at your own risk.


DLT Labs™ is a global leader in the development and delivery of enterprise blockchain technologies and solutions, as well as a pioneer in the creation and implementation of standards for application development. With a deep track record in innovation and one of the world's largest pools of highly experienced blockchain experts, DLT Labs™ enables the transformation and innovation of complex multi-stakeholder processes.

© Copyright nasscom. All Rights Reserved.