Prototype for Software(s)

What is a Prototype ?

Prototype is used to help the consumer of the software and the developers to understand the requirement. In general, Prototype can be defined as : pseudo system to validate the requirements.

Prototype can be used to give the end-user of the software a clear vision of the system. Also, it helps the developer(s) to identify their work product clearly.

Types of Prototype :

• Evolutionary Prototype &
• Throw-away Prototype

Evolutionary Prototype :

When a prototype is designed and is transformed into the workable piece of software, then its called a Evolutionary Proto Typing. Means, the prototype designed is used to explain the software system to be designed. And then the same proto is added with all the functionalities that are mentioned in the BRD(Business Requirement Document) or SRS (Software Requirement Specification)

Throw-away Prototype :

As the name indicates, it is just used as a reference in a software development process. Unlike, Evolutionary Prototyping, Throw-away prototype is going to be a model for the software, and its not going to be the product. Here, the Prototype is developed mostly with tools which can be used for designing. Whereas the software is developed in some other language / tool / IDE.

I have seen many people misunderstanding a prototype / looking for more operations in a proto. So thought of explaining that. It took more than a week to come up with a definition kinda stuff. When you come across with people who didn't understand what a proto is, then forward the link to them