prototyping

Prototyping a GUI with a customer

When prototyping initial GUI functionality with a customer is it better to use a pen/paper drawing or to mock something up using a tool and show them that ? The argument against a tool generated design being that the customer can sometimes focus on the low-level specifics of the mock-up rather than taking a higher level functional view ...

Prototyping hybrid Python code

I have been mulling over writing a peak fitting library for a while. I know Python fairly well and plan on implementing everything in Python to begin with but envisage that I may have to re-implement some core routines in a compiled language eventually. IIRC, one of Python's original remits was as a prototyping language, however Python ...

How do you prototype?

We prototype a design, GUI, just to analyze a particular problem, proof of concept, etc. Sometimes we throw away the prototype, and sometimes it ends up in the production code. We use different languages, technologies, strategies, and styles to prototype. What are the different situations you prototype usually and how do you prototype? ...

What is the best web prototyping tool?

What is the best tool to create a web application interface prototype? ...

Most rapid RAD environment for prototyping

What do you consider the most rapid RAD environment for a working prototype? Not for debate. language platform IDE DB (personal note) Thank you. P.S.1 I was pretty happy with PERL for back-end prototyping... I get stuck when dealing with the UI... it doesn't seem to come as easy... ...

Whats the best way to create interactive application prototypes?

The question should be interpreted from a general point of view and not targeted solely at web apps or desktop apps. I have been looking around to find a simple and easy way of creating interactive prototypes for web applications. I'd like to use a technique that allows simple UI creation and especially UI recreation and modification in...

Do you know an alternative to balsamiq mockups for wireframe building?

I am searching for something like http://www.balsamiq.com/products/mockups . I like the program and would buy it if it were 20 bucks a licence. Do you guys know something in the range from 0 to 20 bucks which can do what this thing can? Give me some more answers there is no real answer here and I don't want to waste 100 rep points! ...

Are there any user interface prototyping tools for Eclipse?

I am looking into designing new features for Eclipse-based programming tools, from the requirements/ideas perspective. To really do this quickly, I would like to sketch UI elements without having to code things -- my concern is with the concepts and ideas right now, not the possible later realization. Are there any such graphical sketch...

Tools for simulating and developing hardware and protocols

I want to dabble in the design of hardware and protocols, specifically for wireless mesh networking. Is there a software-based alternative to getting an FPGA setup and writing code for it? Are there any tools well-suited for coding/designing the protocol(s) for such a device? Clarification: I'm looking for free and preferably open sourc...

Rapid Prototyping for Embedded Systems

For doing prototyping on small embedded projects that require physical motion, what hardware prototyping tools are available? For my projects, I tend to spend more time finding parts (i.e. wood, aluminum, etc.) and making the proper cuts, measurements, and connections than writing the software and configuring the electrical hardware. ...

What are possible/good ways to prototype iPhone applications?

This is intentionally left broad. If you wanted to show users what iPhone/mobile applications could to for them. The more interactive the better, but it must be quick to build as you can't code up every idea. Let us assume real-time games are out of scope. Throw out ideas or state which approach would be best. Here are some of my id...

Which language should I use?

Hi, I'm about to produce a prototype for a technology startup that I've just joined, and I'm trying to decide which language to use. It's going to be a simple web tool with a MySQL database in the background and some AI stuff going on in between. I've used Ruby and PHP a reasonable amount in the past, but wonder whether I might be bette...

Design or prototype first?

When first approaching a project is best to step back and think through everything or just dive in and start coding and polish at a later date? Essentially, do you design first or try to rapidly prototype? I have been burned by both methods, sometimes I try and think everything through but when I actually get down to the nitty gritty I ...

Can someone tell me what Strong typing and weak typing means and which one is better?

Can someone tell me what Strong typing and weak typing means and which one is better? ...

Is there any framework for Windows Forms, DB driven application development/prototyping?

I'm writing simple database driven application, 80% of functionality is CRUD operations on about 15 tables. Coming from web development background I figured I can cover almost all of these CRUD cases with Rails scaffolding or say Django admins. So I started to look around for Rails/Django-like framework but for Windows Forms applications...

How do you prototype a large website?

I am working on the rewrite of a large VB6-based application. We are moving from Windows Forms to web-based deployment using ASP .Net. There are about 50 core users and all are internal to the company. We need an efficient way to try out different designs in order to investigate the information architecture of the site, the workflow, an...

Prototyping Tools for non-programmers - Expression?

Hi all, We are looking for a prototyping tool to allow our business analysts (and myself) mockup sites. Some people have suggested using the MS Expression suite of tools for this. I am worried it might be a bit too technical for the non-programmers. Does anyone have any experience using Expressions Web (or Blend) as a prototyping tool...

The right language for OpenGL UI prototyping. Ditching Python.

So, I got this idea that I'd try to prototype an experimental user interface using OpenGL and some physics. I know little about either of the topics, but am pretty experienced with programming languages such as C++, Java and C#. After some initial research, I decided on using Python (with Eclipse/PyDev) and Qt, both new to me, and now ha...

Best web app for creating screen mockups?

I'm looking for a web app that would allow me to quickly sketch some prototype screens for a potential web app for users of this application. Is there a preferred tool for this kind of thing? Or, if not a web app, is there offline software for doing this? Should I just use something like Illustrator/Fireworks? ...

Best Practices while Prototyping?

While prototyping, to what extent do you throw best practices out of the door in favor of code-and-fix hacking? Granted that the code is not intended to be kept in full production. Add: I am working on a rather large semi-working prototype made in Python, to figure out the UI for an embedded application. I know that the code is not inte...