Phase Summary

  • Confirm the specifications
  • Develop the CMS
  • Finalize integrations
  • Continuous testing
  • Update the GitHub Repo
  • Going to Market

Typical Outcomes

  • Pre-production meeting
  • CMS or database development
  • Content flowing
  • Brand and content guidelines

How the prototyping and production phase unrolls depends on whether the team is building an app or a site. Building apps usually involves determining more complex functionality; rapid prototyping allows the project or product to form quickly with ongoing collaboration from the team and client before development. Simple sites don’t usually require development of vertical slices unless their functionality would benefit from it. They usually move from design directly into development, although we don’t want to box ourselves into calling this either a waterfall or agile method. We just take the approach that works the best with each individual product or site. Design may run parallel to, staggered with, or ahead of development, and can follow up with styling CSS if necessary.

For larger projects and applications, it’s a good idea to have an early conversation with the client so they can establish a team to carry on support and maintenance (or hire a developer) if required.

Confirm Specifications

Review The Components

It’s development time. The first step is to make sure there are no gaps in information regarding functionality and its interaction with the look and feel of the site or app we are building. Ongoing communication between the designer, developer, and all other teammates prevent misinterpretation about how we translate the prototype into a functional site or application.

Before any development work is completed, we re-review our components list together and cross-check it against what we’ve been building so far. This allows us to see any gaps or directional shifts taken since we started and also keeps us on target for our initial release.

Pre-Production Meeting

Once we’ve met with our team to go over the core components list, it’s time for a pre-production meeting. Our PM and developer(s) coordinate a pre-production meeting with the designer and content strategist to determine any special areas of focus or development considerations. This is also a good way to ensure that our design build and content hierarchy are completely in sync with the development plan. Be sure we have access to all the right login credentials before any code is committed.

API Specification

An API allows a web browser or mobile device to interact with the system to fetch or update data. Our developers work together to create documentation that outlines exactly how that API should work with the app and the steps we need to take to ensure the interactions are seamless. We also make sure we have any required account information if that API already exists or the specifications we need to create and refine APIs for our project. API building takes time and should be fleshed out as early as possible to account for all the moving parts.

Develop the CMS

Next the developer considers the CMS. If we’re building an app we have to determine what, if any type of CMS, is necessary and what kind of flexibility the client should have to be able to update the content. This also means we should have a clear idea of how we’re approaching the development: a CMS like ExpressionEngine or Craft, or a custom built framework like Django. Usually the team will adjust content for the client when building apps, since content changes affect the design of the app in later releases. For simple sites, we almost always develop the CMS that the HTML/CSS or face of the site or app hooks into.

Finalize integrations

When developing, we also need to be sure we have fleshed out all the angles of integration:

  • Are we linking or using social media with the site or app?
  • Are there other systems or other apps that either pull data from or provide data to our app or site?
  • How much control do users have to modify this setup?
  • Do we have to adjust how this process works in the future? How often?
  • Are there any costs associated with these integrations (aka third party permissions/adjustments)? We have to make sure our clients are aware as early as possible.

For more traditional sites, this process happens after design has been approved. For app development or sites with databases or complex functionality, we continue to develop in vertical slices as each section of the app or site is completed, working in tandem with our designers.

Running in Sprints

When working in vertical slices we usually coordinate one or two week sprints where we outline what portion to accomplish in that time and set clear deliverables and milestones to keep us on track.

Continuous Testing

One of our earmarks for development has been the introduction of continuous integrative testing. Our developers create scripts that test our code, a process called ‘test driven development’, to make sure that our code ‘passes’ and acts the way it should. Ongoing testing saves time in QA since we know that the majority of the moving parts are already working as they should. We’re using a Jenkins server as a testing environment for our apps and more complex sites.

Update the GitHub Repo

If we’ve created code snippets that we’d reuse or that could be viable for the public and do not give away client trade secrets, consider adding them to a public repository on the nGen Works GitHub account. This helps us give back to the creative community but also allows us to share our process in a way that can help strengthen the industry’s design approach.

Going To Market

If we haven’t already, we make sure to discuss the desired outcome of the app with the client. Do this early and confirm often to make sure the goals of the product are still in line with our client’s vision.

  • Is it going in the app store, or will it live on its own server?
  • How often will it need to be updated?
  • Who will be assigned to do those updates? Now? Six months from now?
  • If this is a purchasable product, how does the payment structure work?
  • Will there be a sales team/support team available? How will support be handled?
  • How will we know when server upgrades need to happen to accommodate growth?
  • Have we discussed a maintenance plan with the client? What are the expectations?

Getting a head start on these questions means we’re anticipating any surprises that often tend to show up in the later phases of development as timelines and budgets run tight and clients are looking forward to seeing their babies go live. The more clear we are from the outset, the more relaxed we can be when we push the project live.

When the team is sure that all scoped work has been completed, it’s time to make sure our code and design files are organized and tight and ready for a final QA. Make sure to cross-reference our component list and to fill in the client about any unforeseen adjustments in Basecamp along the way. Now we’re ready for a thorough QA before launch.

Talk to us.

Learn more about our programs or just say hi.