Software prototyping

Software prototyping, an activity during certain software development, is the creation of prototypes, i.e., incomplete versions of the software program being developed. A prototype typically simulates only a few aspects of the features of the eventual program, and may be completely different from the eventual implementation. The conventional purpose of a prototype is to allow users of the software to evaluate developers' proposals for the design of the eventual product by actually trying them out, rather than having to interpret and evaluate the design based on descriptions. Prototyping can also be used by end users to describe and prove requirements that developers have not considered, so 'controlling the prototype' can be a key factor in the commercial relationship between solution providers and their clients.