Testing a prototype is a critical phase in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and the entrepreneurial product-development process. It allows developers and stakeholders to identify functional gaps, usability issues, and technical bugs before the final product is built, saving time and cost.
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Early error detection | Bugs found early are cheaper to fix |
| Requirement validation | Confirms the product meets user needs |
| Reduced project risk | Prevents costly rework in later stages |
| Stakeholder confidence | Demonstrates progress to clients |
The tester has no knowledge of the internal code or logic. Testing is based purely on inputs and expected outputs. It checks whether the system behaves correctly from the user's perspective.
The tester has full knowledge of the internal code structure, logic, and paths. It verifies that all statements, branches, and conditions execute correctly.
Conducted by internal staff (developers or QA team) in a controlled environment before the product is released externally.
Conducted by actual end-users in their real-world environment. Feedback is collected to make final refinements before the official launch.
Observes real users attempting to complete specific tasks with the prototype. The goal is to evaluate ease of use, interface clarity, and user satisfaction.
| Concept | Question it answers | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Verification | Are we building the product right? | Checks against specifications/design |
| Validation | Are we building the right product? | Checks against user needs |
Prototype testing follows an iterative approach aligned with the SDLC:
This cycle directly supports SLO CS-11-B-01: planning, developing, systematically testing, and refining computational artifacts.