How-To Demo MVP & Prototype?
I've been looking to put my idea down on some screens for ages. Right now, it's nothing more than some crappy drawings on a notebook along with a website that needs a ton of work.
What do you use to quickly get prototypes done?
I've probably spent over a week now trying to grab components from a bootstrap theme but I fear this method is way too time-consuming and I find myself screwing around in CSS and javascript when all I want to do is throw some screens together and to get some feedback. I am trying to do this in a lean fashion and I don't want to code it all at once then get feedback.
Does anyone have any advice?
Prototypes and wireframes are a great value to teams, but they're not the best use of time for solo hackers. If it were me, I would load Bootstrap and start stubbing something out in Rails.
This is the approach I've been taking..I'm trying to get the concept down to show a test group, just want to get the idea into some screens to get feedback before I spend a lot of time developing. Using Bootstrap and one of the themes but it seems to be taking me longer than I expected.
Sometimes your MVP will be just a set of pictures to explain or even sell for at least your closest environment.
If it is not enough or it looks not so convincing, then try to use some nocode tool or maybe a combination of them. You can spend about 1-10 days to make the working prototype to convince yuor potential audience
I'm on about day 6 of this process...not using a no-code tool. What do you use?
Good question @robshpiel1
I'm a co-founder of Tabbli. The no-code platform that allows you to create and improve on the fly your flexible database. Define different scheduled or triggered automation by scenario and make pretty complicated web-app for internal users (like admin area) and for external users (public web-site and password-protected membership area). Marketplaces, job-boards, communities.
So I use Tabbli mostly. And I integrate it with external tools. But the optimal solution is often between nocode and low-code or even full-code.
Drop me an email to alex@tabbli.com and I'll be happy to be of help you if possible. Maybe you'll need something quite simple and even free.
Best, Alex
Before you even create a prototype, have you sat down with any potential users or anyone in your target market to talk through your idea / go over your drawings and website? You can get a lot of good feedback this way without having to put a prototype together just yet
Yes, I have sat down with a few potential customers as well as the local Small Business Administration office (in the US). Setting up a focus group now with potential customers but the suggestion was to put something together that can show them the concept as right now it's in a slide deck as well as a business plan, or in conversations.
ah gotcha. okay its good that you've done that! @tzeying what would you say?