Functionality Prototyping
A functional prototype is a draft version of a website used briefly to test functionality.
Prototypes are done at the same time as Visual Planning—and they help with the Visual Planning process.
The proposed template should be loaded in – even though we are testing the functionality only.
What is a functional prototype?
Don't continue straight into the Build Phase
The prototype should be stopped. It isn’t the build phase. Once functional protoyping has served its purpose – work should continue in visual planning (but less so for e-commerce projects that stick very close to the chosen template)
Which project needs functional prototyping?
Any project that has more than static pages needs functional prototyping.
This includes e-commerce projects, projects with custom post types or dynamic content.
Why is this important?
Prototyping functionality ensures that, early on in the project, you work out any technical kinks or oversights.
Sometimes project seem easy, but turn out to be a lot more challenging. Spotting this early is vital.
It reduces the risk of failure or budget overrun in the later stages of the project once much time and energy has been invested.
Testing a technical prototype
The coordinator and another developer should check the technical prototype thoroughly.
Don’t assume it works because the developers says it does. No one is good at checking their own work.
Testing the soundness of technical solution
There are many ways to get something to work. Just because it works, it doesn’t mean it’s done well.
A sound solution is easy to maintain and support. It won’t use code or too many plugins. It will use only premium plugins.
Testing that it works fully
As much as possible, test that things work from start to finish. The goal is to make sure that things do work and everything has been developed.
Reevaluating the scope
Very often, when developing a website, the scope changes. The coordinator has to work out if the scope changes affect the cost and timeline.