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Like the traditional software development, the process for web site/application development can also be divided into different life cycle steps. This is to help format development effectively, and the best engineering standards and procedures can be adopted to achieve maximum quality for web sites/applications of any scope and complexity.
1. Analysis Towards the preliminary engineering of the system we need to do a complete analysis as to, how the website or web-based application is going to help the present system and the business. The analysis covers all the aspect especially on how the website is going to join the existing system, finding the target audience, all the present hardware, software, users and data should be considered as the plan for the project will be an output of analysis. INPUT: Interview with the client, e-mail and supporting documents by the client, discussion notes, online chat, recorded telephone conversations, model websites/applications etc. OUTPUT: Work Plan, Cost Involved, Team requirement, Technical requirements, Supporting documents, Approval
2. Specification
Preliminary specifications are drawn up by covering up each and every element of the requirement. The modules of the site including general layout, site navigation and dynamic components are included in the specs. It may require further levels of consultation to access additional business requirements. After reviewing and approving the preliminary document, a written proposal is prepared, outlining the scope of the project including responsibilities, timeline and cost. INPUT:Report from the analysis OUTPUT:Complete requirement specifications 3. Design After building the specification, work on the website is scheduled upon receipt of the signed proposal, a deposit, and any written content material, graphics, video and audio to be included in the project. Here normally the layouts and navigation will be designed as a prototype to show the interactivity of the web site/application with all images and navigation. All suggestions and changes should be frozen here before moving to the next stage. INPUT: Requirement specifications OUTPUT: Site design with templates, images and prototype 4. Coding If the site is dynamic then the code should utilize a template. The programmer may need to interact with the designer in order to understand the design. The designer may need to develop some graphics such as buttons when ever the programmer is in need, especially when dealing with forms. The end user documentation can also be prepared by the coding team, which can be used by a technical writer who can understand them, helps write the manuals later. INPUT: The site design with forms and the requirement specification OUTPUT: Database driven functions with the site, coding documents 5. Testing Unlike traditional software, web sites/applications need intensive testing, as the application will always function as a multi-tier system with bandwidth limitations and accessibility issues. Some of the testing to be done are, Integration, Stress, Scalability, loading, resolution and cross-browser compatibility testing. Both automated and manual testing would be done without fail. After doing all this testing a live testing is necessary for web sites/applications after uploading the project on the Internet. INPUT: The site, requirement specifications, supporting documents, technical specifications and technical documents OUTPUT: Completed site/application, testing reports, error logs, frequent interaction with the developers. 6. Promotion This phase involves marketing the site’s URL, preparation of meta tags, constant analysis and submitting the URL to search engines and directories. The site’s promotion is normally an ongoing process as the strategies of search engines change quite often. Paid click and paid submissions can also be done with additional costs. INPUT:Site with content, client mails mentioning the competitors OUTPUT: Site submission with necessary meta tag preparation 7. Maintenance Websites need quite frequent updating to keep them very fresh and allowing visitors to come again and again for timely relevant information. In that case we need to do analysis again, and all the other life cycle steps will repeat it self. Bug fixes can be done during the time of maintenance. Once the web site is operational, ongoing promotion, technical maintenance, content management and updating, site visit activity reports, staff training and mentoring is needed on regular basis depending on the complexity of the website and the needs of your company. INPUT: Site/Application, content/functions to be updated/upgraded, re-analysis report OUTPUT: Updated/Upgraded site/application, supporting documents to other life-cycle steps and teams. To Conclude Some steps may not apply for certain tasks. It depends on the cost and time involved and the necessity. Sometimes if it is an intranet site, then there will be no site promotion. But even if you want to start your own web development firm, if you adopt certain planning along with this web engineering steps in mind, it will definitely reflect in the quality of the outcome.
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