Developing Web-Based Applications through e-Prototyping

“Traditional” prototyping is based on assumptions that are not – or only partially – valid for the development of Web-based applications. In this paper, the “traditional” approaches of prototyping are recalled, and the new conditions, difficulties and challenges of involving and communicating with the relevant actors as a way of gathering sound requirements in the context of Webprojects are examined. The paper presents a modified prototyping approach called e-prototyping. It includes frequent releases of software versions (based on short development cycles) as well as gathering feedback from users and other relevant actors in “productive mode”. The approach points at the need for offering various communication channels and systematically sorting out the stream of feedback to create sound requirements for evolutionary software process and release management.