Mastering the Requirements Process, 4th Edition

15

Using Prototypes as the Specification

Sometimes it is possible that a candidate prototype can serve as the specification. But only sometimes, and regardless of what we say here, this should not be used as your mainstream approach. There are too many opportunities for a prototype to mislead the developers, which would defeat the point of using it as a specification.

However, when your project is smaller and not mission critical, and when the application domain is well understood by the developers, you might get away with this. You probably will have to add some more detail, but judiciously using a prototype as the specification can sometimes work.

It is worth repeating that prototypes, as we are suggesting you use them, are intended to ensure ...