Software development is a long and arduous process. If you are in this sector, you know how focused you must be for your code to be up to standard.
Even a tiny mistake can move the launch time a few weeks forward. This can be detrimental to the marketing and utility of the application.
To allow users a bug-free and clean experience with the application, the developers first create a basic version to see if it meets the user's needs before putting any significant resources into it.
This prototype model is tested by various techniques and methods to ensure the prototype is viable, will provide a bug-free experience for the end user, and is aligned with their needs. Then resources and skills of the developers come into play, and they create the actual software.
In this article, we will learn how developers use early prototypes to see if the application's requirements are met.
We will also be delving into the concept of the V Model in software engineering and its utility in the development life cycle of early prototypes.
Additionally, we will discover the synergy between the V model and the prototype model in software engineering.
So, without any further ado, let us get into the realm of software development and learn all about the prototype model in software engineering.
Without any further ado, let’s get started!
Prototype model in software engineering
The prototype model is a software engineering model in which the software prototype is developed and tested to see if the requirements are validated. The model is then reworked until the prototype is acceptable to the client.
The prototype model in software engineering is useful in projects where the requirements are not yet detailed. This method is based on trial and error until the client is happy with the model.
Phases of Prototype Model in software engineering
There are six phases of the Prototype Model in software engineering. These are:
Gathering of requirements and their analysis
This phase defines the requirements of the system in detail. Users or clients of the system are interviewed throughout the process to learn what they anticipate from it.
Quick design
This phase is an essential and quick design created of the software system. Remember that this is not the final design, which will be finalized later. This gives the user an idea of how the software application will look and will help develop the prototype.
Build a Prototype
In this phase of the prototype model in software engineering, the actual prototype is built based on the given requirements and good reception of the basic design from the user. This phase creates a working software model that can later be translated into a full-scale version depending on the client's approval.
Initial user evaluation
This phase is all client based. The prototype is presented to the client for evaluation to see if all the needs and requirements are met. This phase allows for a sort of testing and helps identify the pros and cons of the prototype. The initial evaluation's suggestions help the developers create a better version that meets all the requirements.
Refining prototype
This phase is a direct successor of the previous phase and depends on it. If the client wants some changes in the prototype in the initial evaluation, the prototype is then worked on, and all the changes requested by the client are added. This phase lasts till the client is happy with the working model.
Implementation and maintenance of the product
When the refining work is finished, the final system is developed based on the passed-through testing and, if all comes out clear, entered into production. This system also undergoes routine maintenance, allowing for preventing failures of significant magnitudes.
V model in software engineering
The V model in software engineering is a model in which the process runs sequentially in a V shape. This model is also known as Verification and Validation model.
This model allows for the testing phase after every development stage. This process ensures that the present stage passes all the tests and is viable. Only then the next phase of development can start.
The main principle of the V model in software engineering is the focus on testing early in the development process. The V model offers several advantages to developers.
It provides a systematic approach and excellent traceability. This allows for early identification and removal of any problems in the code.
The V-Model in software engineering strongly emphasises extensive testing, and its capacity to specify precisely the phases in the entire development of the software makes it a popular choice for usage in safety-critical systems, such as aerospace and defence systems.
Phases of V model in software engineering
As with the prototype model in software engineering, the V model also consists of six phases. These are:
Requirements Gathering and Analysis
This first stage of the V-Model involves gathering and analysing the software needs provided by the client to establish the project's parameters.
Design
This phase creates software design and architecture, including detailed software design.
Implementation
This phase of the V model is called the implementation phase because the software gets built. This is based on the accepted design.
Testing
The testing phase of the software ensures that the client experience is flawless and meets the requirement set by the client without any issues.
Deployment
This phase basically means that the software is put to use after the testing is complete, and there is total faith in the software.
Maintenance
This phase permits regular maintenance of the software to avoid downtimes caused by any sort of failure.
Conclusion
In summary, the prototype model in software engineering allows the developers to create a rough prototype to see if the client's requirements are validated. This is done through six phases.
ON THE OTHER HAND, the V model in software engineering puts a lot of emphasis on testing after each developmental step is completed, making its use in safety-based systems preferable.
