When talking about software development, creating the perfect product from scratch might appear as an impossible task. That is where the prototype model in software engineering comes into play. Not only the clients but developers can also get clarity about the end product early in the process, opening doors for better communication, feedback, and the final results.
What is Prototype model?
Coming to the core concept, the prototype model is one of the software lifecycle models where a working model of the solution is built before the actual final development begins. With this model, the entrepreneurs get a visual idea of how the final software will look and function. It is very useful when requirements are not crystal clear or there are some confusions about the solution and its adoption in the market.
A prototype is just a simple version of the final product that includes only the core elements, like the basic navigation, design, and functionalities. The goal is to collect the feedback and refine the solution before it is sent to the actual development.
Why Prototype Model is Used in Software Development?
The prototype model is used in the below circumstances:
- Unclear requirements that are likely to change.
- The success of the project requires user feedback collection.
- User interface or user experience remains a concern in the entrepreneur’s mind.
- Entrepreneurs want to avoid costly mistakes in the development lifecycle.
With the help of a prototype, which is a rough working version, developers and businesses both can make the necessary adjustments so that the final product meets the product expectations.
Phases of the prototype model
Now that the concept of a prototype model is clear to us, here is how the prototype model in software engineering generally works:
- Requirement gathering where basic requirements are collected, although not in full detail, just enough to start creating the prototype.
- Quick design, which consists of a simple design and navigation of the product
- Prototype development, which is a working model on top of minimal code that has core features.
- User evaluation where users interact with products and deliver feedback to businesses for making necessary changes in the final product plan.
- Refinement is on the basis of the feedback and this loop continues until the users get what they actually want from the product.
- Final product development, which is the final development phase of the solution after meeting all the necessary adjustments collected through the prototype.
What is the prototype model in SDLC with example?
With respect to SDLC, let’s again relook at the prototype model with a working example. Try to imagine that you are a client who wants a mobile app for online food delivery but is unsure about its features, layout, and the ordering system. Here, instead of creating the full thing right away, the development partner will create a prototype showing:
- login screen
- list of restaurants
- simple cart and checkout flow
The client then uses the prototype and suggests changes like adding filter options or improving the payment screen and after a few rounds of feedback and updates, the client can go for final full development with clarity and confidence.
Advantages and Limitations of the Prototype software lifecycle model
By now you must be clear about when prototype models are built, and it’s time we take a look at the benefits as well as the limitations of the prototype model.
The foremost benefit is better user involvement because users are a part of the development process right from the beginning and help businesses get clear requirements. Any missing feature can be added later on if the client misses it in the beginning. The second benefit is the faster feedback loop, as feedback is nearly immediate, which saves time and effort in the long run for the solution provider. Finally, the risk magnitude reduces because identifying the flaws and missing features early can save a lot of costs for the business in the final development phase.
But with all these benefits come a few limitations, as mentioned below:
- Repeated changes may increase the cost and time, which is rare but true.
- Users might confuse the prototype with the final product so it’s important to clarify that what users access is a demo.
Other than these two limitations, which are not actually limitations, creating a prototype is an amazing option for any business wanting to test the viability of their product before the final product development.
Final Words
A prototype model in software engineering is a great way to bridge the gap between an unclear idea and a successful product. When requirements get clear with the help of direct feedback from users, the chances of final product success notably increase. And a prototype can be of a web app, enterprise software, a mobile app, or any digital idea for moving towards successful outcomes.
