Almost always, there are more than one ways to solve a problem. Although the end result could be the same, there are many different paths that can be taken to arrive at the solution. Similarly, each of the software development issues lends itself to a range of different solutions. Creating a software application can be achieved in many ways and a development team must adopt a process that is most ideally suited to the nature of the final product.
One of the most traditional approaches to software development is the cascade model, while an unconventional plus is the prototype. These software development models are influenced by the manufacturing processes of electronics and hardware industries. In this Buzzle article, I present the difference between the prototype model and cascade model by comparing their characteristics.
Ideally, any company wishing to adopt a software development process that allows optimal use of resources and provides a final product without bug that perfectly meets the expectations of users and that too, in the budget set, as well as the schedule. Before looking at the difference between the two models, let me give you a brief overview of the cascade models and how the prototype work.
How does the Waterfall model work?
When you look at the waterfall model, the words that come to mind are "structured" and "orderly". The cascade model is inspired by the philosophy of the "assembly line" of the hardware industry, where each step is initiated only after the conclusion of the previous one. It is called "Waterfall Model" because each step depends on the previous one and accumulates or "flows" of the work done in the previous phases.
The entire software development process, according to the cascade model, begins with understanding the needs and expectations of the customer or the end user. Once the requirements are well understood by the developers, the analysis and design of the software really begins.
This phase is the most intense of all and involves high-level developers, who ideaise a design that perfectly meets all the needs of users and be robust enough for implementation. Once the design is ready, the coding begins. Separate teams will focus on a small part of the entire coding project and all of these design parts will be set up in the following integration phase.
Once the program is ready after integration, the test and debug phase begins. Here are all the features of the software and each of its features are tested and the bugs, if any, are rectified. It is followed by the actual field implementation of the application for the client. A dedicated team is responsible for the future maintenance of the software and customer service.
How does the prototype model work?
Let's see now what the prototype model of software development is similar. This model is radically different from the cascade model in many ways. As the name implies, this process involves the creation of "prototypes" or "models" of firsts to the final product, from the beginning, which are continually improved through user feedback and development efforts, up to a point in time. final product that confirms exactly with the user requirements is created.
Hardware Prototype Development
The developer provides the client with a rudimentary prototype application just after he has been fed the requirements. This is a prerequisite and "summary" of the final product model, with basic features and user interface. By analyzing the prototype, the client then gives notice to the developers, as to whether this is the kind of thing he wants.
According to the proposed changes and the report of the customer in general, the prototype is reworked on and it continues to improve through better design, until it turns into the program that meets all the requirements of the customers. This is a kind of "interactive" design, where the end user is involved in every stage of development. Each evolution prototype goes through test and debug phases, including the final product, before deployment.
Difference between prototype model and cascade model
Now that you have a basic understanding of what the model and prototype waterfall are all about, let me point out the differences in choice in these two software design philosophies. The cascade model delivers the final product directly to the user and his return is only taken in, before the design phase. Conversely, the prototype model creates several challenging work applications and involves constant user interaction, until developers come up with the final application, which satisfies the user.
One of the most traditional approaches to software development is the cascade model, while an unconventional plus is the prototype. These software development models are influenced by the manufacturing processes of electronics and hardware industries. In this Buzzle article, I present the difference between the prototype model and cascade model by comparing their characteristics.
Ideally, any company wishing to adopt a software development process that allows optimal use of resources and provides a final product without bug that perfectly meets the expectations of users and that too, in the budget set, as well as the schedule. Before looking at the difference between the two models, let me give you a brief overview of the cascade models and how the prototype work.
How does the Waterfall model work?
When you look at the waterfall model, the words that come to mind are "structured" and "orderly". The cascade model is inspired by the philosophy of the "assembly line" of the hardware industry, where each step is initiated only after the conclusion of the previous one. It is called "Waterfall Model" because each step depends on the previous one and accumulates or "flows" of the work done in the previous phases.
The entire software development process, according to the cascade model, begins with understanding the needs and expectations of the customer or the end user. Once the requirements are well understood by the developers, the analysis and design of the software really begins.
This phase is the most intense of all and involves high-level developers, who ideaise a design that perfectly meets all the needs of users and be robust enough for implementation. Once the design is ready, the coding begins. Separate teams will focus on a small part of the entire coding project and all of these design parts will be set up in the following integration phase.
Once the program is ready after integration, the test and debug phase begins. Here are all the features of the software and each of its features are tested and the bugs, if any, are rectified. It is followed by the actual field implementation of the application for the client. A dedicated team is responsible for the future maintenance of the software and customer service.
How does the prototype model work?
Let's see now what the prototype model of software development is similar. This model is radically different from the cascade model in many ways. As the name implies, this process involves the creation of "prototypes" or "models" of firsts to the final product, from the beginning, which are continually improved through user feedback and development efforts, up to a point in time. final product that confirms exactly with the user requirements is created.
Hardware Prototype Development
The developer provides the client with a rudimentary prototype application just after he has been fed the requirements. This is a prerequisite and "summary" of the final product model, with basic features and user interface. By analyzing the prototype, the client then gives notice to the developers, as to whether this is the kind of thing he wants.
According to the proposed changes and the report of the customer in general, the prototype is reworked on and it continues to improve through better design, until it turns into the program that meets all the requirements of the customers. This is a kind of "interactive" design, where the end user is involved in every stage of development. Each evolution prototype goes through test and debug phases, including the final product, before deployment.
Difference between prototype model and cascade model
Now that you have a basic understanding of what the model and prototype waterfall are all about, let me point out the differences in choice in these two software design philosophies. The cascade model delivers the final product directly to the user and his return is only taken in, before the design phase. Conversely, the prototype model creates several challenging work applications and involves constant user interaction, until developers come up with the final application, which satisfies the user.
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