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Prototyping

Making a rough version of an idea to learn something before you commit to building it.

What is Prototyping?

Making a rough version of an idea to learn something before you commit to building it.

What you learn

Build the cheapest thing that answers your question.

When it helps

you’re about to build something and still have an open question about it.

Use it at work

  1. Write the one question the prototype must answer.
  2. Choose the cheapest material that can answer it.
  3. Put it in front of people.
  4. Decide what to change, then make the next version.

Your output

Before you prototype, write the one question it must answer. Then choose the cheapest material that can answer it.

Watch for

Building more detail than the question needs, or building without a question.

Related practices

Sources

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