What Is Software Prototyping And Why Do You Need It?

Software prototyping is a commonly known term that carries with it various myths. If we remove all misconceptions and present a simple definition, a software prototype is merely a base product that closely resembles the appearance and functionality of the final software product. However, this is not the case with all types of prototypes.

First, you have high-fidelity (HiFi) prototypes that represent the same functionality as the final software in the truest sense. HiFi prototypes provide a very clear and satisfactory demonstration of the software, lacking only a few cosmetic touch ups. The only downside is high-fidelity prototypes add to lengthier development cycles, which results in higher development costs.

Next, you have low-fidelity prototypes (LoFi) that are basically two-dimensional figures or charts. Instead of replicating the functionalities of the software, the best that LoFi prototypes do is list and explain features in black and white. LoFi prototypes are used to demonstrate the idea behind the application’s purposes to gain buy-in from other stakeholders in the application’s development.

In short, prototype software is a close replica of the final software that may or may not follow the same logic as the final software product. However, prototype software should be comprehensive enough for giving product demonstrations to customers, investors and clients, especially for entrepreneurs launching a new product or business.

Why Do You Need a Software Prototype?

There are a plethora of reasons for an entrepreneur or brand to require a software prototype model:

For Unifying the Vision

Software prototypes can help you evaluate the progress and direction of applications still under development. They demonstrate incremental functionality and where the final software product is heading, without adding significant, additional resources. Prototypes can be valuable at all stages of software development (such as a different prototype for an MVP, a different one for the first iteration and so on), helping to efficiently track the development process and direction of your project.

For External Involvement

Some software development projects require involvement from external stakeholders, investors or customers. To appropriately demonstrate in-progress software, prototypes can be extremely useful for third-party involvement. Entrepreneurs and developers can enhance the software based on external feedback, which may be critical for securing third-party funding.

To Evaluate the Pending Time and Resources

Software prototype models can also be used for evaluating any last minute SRS (software requirement specifications) changes. Models are helpful for checking if software is compatible with new requirements and whether changes can be implemented before deadlines or resources are exhausted. You can also use software prototypes to confirm the actual state of the software at the depletion of all resources.

Different Types of Software Prototyping

There are four practical classifications of software prototyping models:

1. Rapid Prototyping

Consider a scenario where a prototype is frequently required in the software development life cycle (SDLC) for various purposes no matter how small the changes in source code. Rapid prototyping is ideal for matching such testing requirements or demonstrating small additions. For this reason, rapid prototyping is mostly used in agile development methodology, where minimal changes are quickly developed and implemented for each sprint.

As software development moves from stage to stage, previous prototypes become useless. Therefore, rapid prototyping is also known as throwaway prototyping, where each precedent prototype becomes irrelevant to the current state of development.

Benefits of Rapid Prototyping

Time savings – rapid prototypes are built upon one another, eliminating development from scratchUniversal – iterative development is very useful for small to large projectsCost efficient – with only minor alterations in iterative models, rapid prototyping has minimal impact on software development budgets

2. Evolutionary Prototyping

Sometimes, software requirements are unclear at the start of a project and require minor to major refinements throughout development. In such cases, evolutionary prototypes are developed that include only those features that are clearly understood. Once the evolutionary prototype is demonstrated, stakeholders can help to define and refine previously unclear requirements.

Evolutionary prototyping uses an interactive process for implementing external feedback, identifying new requirements and confirming compatibility as new requirements are added. In a way, evolutionary prototypes are similar to a minimum viable product or MVP, but instead of starting with basic, minimum features, development begins with only those features that are clearly identified and understood.

Benefits of Evolutionary Prototyping

Assists in understanding all specified software requirementsMakes it easier to detect missing features needed to carry out the intended functionality of the final productResults in a more widely accepted software product, as stakeholder feedback drives feature development

3. Incremental Prototyping

Incremental prototyping is the only feasible model for enterprise software, because enterprise applications are typically modular and require significant integrations. In this type of prototyping, multiple, smaller prototypes are developed for each feature of the comprehensive software solution. Once all such prototypes are developed, they are combined into a single big prototype that represents the actual software.

A clear distinction in incremental prototyping is that all developers and development requires proper synchronization. Otherwise, each smaller prototype may appear to be from a different software product, and the final result may look disjointed.

Benefits of Incremental Prototyping

The only prototyping model feasible for enterprise-level softwareVery flexible, as smaller models are easier to execute changesGood at finding defective code, as troubleshooting is restricted to smaller portions of the application

4. Extreme Prototyping

Extreme prototyping is specifically used in web development and divided into three stages, with the second stage being the most important. Critical to these stages are the various layers of an extreme prototype model: the presentation layer or user interface and service layers – communication, business logic and authorization.

The three stages of extreme prototyping:

1: Prepare an HTML build to represent the presentation layer

2: Convert the prototype into a fully functional model by connecting it with the service layers

3: Finalize the production by implementing the service layers

Benefits of Extreme Prototyping

Huge time-savings by eliminating all unproductive activities in the web development processThe various stages of extreme prototyping make it easier to demonstrate a web development project at all levels

Selecting the Best Software Prototyping Model for your Project

Even with the aforementioned details, you still may find it hard to pick the right model for your project. The only exceptions being extreme prototyping for developing a simple straight forward website and incremental prototyping for complex enterprise software applications.

Otherwise, for developing full-fledged solutions, you can opt for rapid, evolutionary or extreme prototyping. If the software development project is too large and complex then it can be handled well with incremental prototyping. On the other hand, if the software is being developed in various sprints like in agile methodology, then go for rapid prototyping.

Evolutionary prototyping is only helpful in cases where the software requirements are unclear or not understood well.

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