WARP

Web Application Rapid Prototyping (WARP) creates a fully functional simulation of your web application during the planning phase of your project.

WARP is a methodology utilizing client side programming and clever use of images to simulate a web application's look and feel. The prototype looks and behaves like a fully functional web application. There is no interaction with a back-end (server) system. The user experience, in terms of functionality, is fabricated using client side techniques. The prototype can be run from any computer with a standard web browser. No plugins or third party programs are required.

Each new prototype is quickly created from your existing project planning documents and from Rapid Path's templates and client side libraries. Prototypes typically cost a few percent of the project's overall budget and are completed in a few weeks or less.

Rapid Path's approach offers development organizations many advantages. It does not require a large upfront investment in infrastructure or licensed software. Our Consulting services typically will cost a few percent of a project's budget. We offer the option of Training your staff in our methods and provide templates and other tools as a part of that training. Our training costs are consistent with other technical training costs and we can provide continuing support services to ensure that your staff is successful using the Rapid Path approach.

Benefits of Web Application Rapid Prototypes (WARP):

• Enhanced Functional Specifications:
  A WARP is a "visual specification" for a project - this helps to ensure that the functionality described in the specification is fully understood by the development team. This can often be critical when working with non-local development teams. Non-technical clients and project stakeholders can easily use a prototype to give meaningful feedback. The prototype can quickly be modified to incorporate design changes during the initial planning of your project.
• Cost Savings and Faster Time to Market:
  Getting it right in the design and specification phase avoids the delays that plague complex web development projects. A visual specification can often expose unforeseen issues with large projects before time and money is spent in development.
• Market Validation:
  Traditional development cycles allow for initial market validation and testing only during the Beta release - this is after significant time and money has already been spent. WARP allows you to collect important feedback during the planning phase of the project. This translates directly into cost savings and faster time to market.
• Meet Client Expectations:
  With a functioning prototype provided early in the development cycle, clients see what they will be getting. There is no ambiguity to be attributed to complex technical jargon. This can help eliminate "feature creep" by ensuring that everyone is literally on the same page.
• Jump Start Marketing:
  WARP is a valuable tool for marketing and sales. It can be used to validate the product idea and user interfaces with primary market research. A prototype is ideal for use as pre-sales collateral and to solicit project collaborations. Sales engagements that would need to wait for a fully developed beta site can be initiated much earlier during the development of the project.