Working on a new project is associated with uncertainty: initially, you do not know whether your idea is feasible and how to implement it. One way to get answers to these questions is to use a proof of concept approach.
The purpose of a POC in software development is to check whether the software idea is technically feasible and, as a result, establish a plan of action for the creation of the product. Let’s look at when and why we should use this approach, learn its challenges, and what strategy to follow.
A POC in software development is used at the start. It is not a final product, but, for example, a computer model. It can also take the form of a presentation, documentary, or demo, i.e., no coding, design, or interface development is required.
However, after verification, it should yield thorough documentation of clear requirements and technical specifications.
Besides feasibility, it determines the requirements on the basis of which the product should be created. The verification results are applied within the company by the team members. Now you know what to do next: develop the project, complete it, or change technologies and methodologies. If you are convinced that the concept works, you can raise internal funds.
POC makes sense:
- to confirm the efficiency of the technology you want to patent;
- to test a new method or technology before implementing it in a large-scale process, such as manufacturing;
- to raise seed funds for a project based on innovative technologies;
- to prove that the technology (program) is worthy of launching it to the target market.
Often proof of concept is confused with other approaches, such as prototype and MVP. The point is that all of them are used at the beginning of work with a new product. However, these are three separate stages with different goals, which, by the way, proceed with each other. Let’s have a look at their peculiarities in the table.
