Question 1

How do I know if my software idea is ready for development?

Accepted Answer

Six signals: workflows mapped end-to-end, user roles defined, a validated prototype, real-world usage of the workflow today, a clear value or revenue signal, and documented technical requirements. When all six are present, engineering can estimate accurately and execute predictably. The assessment above scores each dimension.

Question 2

What documentation should exist before building internal software?

Accepted Answer

A product requirements document (PRD), workflow diagrams covering exceptions and approval points, user roles and permissions, a data model outline, an integration list, and acceptance criteria for each capability. Without these, developers spend the first weeks discovering requirements instead of building.

Question 3

Do I need a prototype before starting development?

Accepted Answer

For anything beyond a basic tool, yes. Prototypes surface UX and product questions when they're cheap to fix. They also give engineering a concrete reference that tightens estimates and reduces mid-build pivots. A clickable mockup is enough — it doesn't need to be production-quality.

Question 4

How do developers create estimates from a project plan?

Accepted Answer

Reputable teams estimate against documented scope: screens, workflows, data model, integrations, and acceptance criteria. Tight inputs produce tight estimates (typically within 10–15% of final cost). Vague briefs produce wide ranges because the team is pricing unknown discovery work.

Question 5

What happens if development starts too early?

Accepted Answer

Scope expands as requirements surface mid-build, timelines slip as early decisions get rebuilt, and budget is consumed by discovery work engineering isn't optimized for. Most 'failed software projects' aren't engineering failures — they're projects that started before they were ready.

Question 6

What does the readiness result actually tell me?

Accepted Answer

A level (1–4), a plain-language summary, three specific things to address next, and a recommendation. If you're ready, the next step is a clean engineering handoff. If you're not, the result points to the cheapest preparation work that closes the gap.

Is your product ready for development?

Do you have defined workflows for the system?

Do you know who the users are?

Do you have a prototype?

Are people already using the system in some form?

Is the system generating revenue or producing measurable value?

Have technical requirements been documented?

Readiness questions teams ask

Want a more accurate read on readiness?