ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Software Prototyping

Software prototyping is like building a pretend version of a computer program before making the real one. Imagine you want to build a cool tower with your building blocks, but you're not sure exactly how it's going to look or how it's going to work. So, what do you do?

You start by making a prototype – a smaller, simpler version of the tower. You might play around with different shapes, sizes, and colors until you find something you like. The prototype isn't the real tower, but it helps you figure out what you want the real tower to look like.

Software prototyping is the same idea. When you want to make a computer program, you start by making a model of it, known as a prototype. Just like with building blocks, the prototype may not be perfect, but it helps you test out your ideas and see what works and what doesn't. You can change things around and try different options until you're happy with the prototype.

Once you have a good prototype, you can use it as a guide to make the real computer program. It's kind of like having a roadmap of all the things you need to do to make the program work. Prototyping helps you iron out any problems or issues before you invest time and money into building the actual software. It saves you time and money in the long run, and you're more likely to end up with a program you're happy with in the end.