Shenzhen Alu Rapid Prototype Precision Co., Ltd.

A throwaway prototype (also called rapid prototyping or close-ended prototyping) is a quick, disposable model created during the early stages of product or software development.  The key characteristic is that it is intentionally discarded ("thrown away") after serving its purpose — it is never intended to become part of the final product or to evolve into the finished system.

Main Purpose

1.The goal is to:Quickly explore ideas

2.Clarify unclear or vague requirements

3.Test concepts

4.Gather early user/stakeholder feedback

5.Reduce risk by validating assumptions before investing heavily in development

How It Works (Typical Flow)

1.Gather initial (often incomplete/vague) requirements

2.Quickly build a simple prototype (can be paper sketches, wireframes, mockups, or basic clickable/digital versions)

3.Show it to users/stakeholders → collect feedback

4.Refine or create new throwaway prototypes if needed (often multiple versions are made)

5.Once enough understanding is gained → discard the prototype(s)

6.Use the knowledge to write proper requirements/specifications

7.Build the real system from scratch using standard development practices

Common Forms of Throwaway Prototypes

1.Paper prototypes / sketches

2.Wireframes

3.Low-fidelity mockups

4.Quick HTML/CSS/clickable demos

5.Basic UI simulations (often built in hours or days)

Advantages

1.Very fast and inexpensive to create

2.Allows experimentation with multiple different ideas/concepts

3.Great for unclear/vague requirements

4.Early risk reduction

5.Better user involvement early on

6.Avoids sinking too much time into wrong directions

Disadvantages

1.Time spent building it is "lost" (not reused in final code)

2.Risk of developers or stakeholders becoming attached to it

3.Can give false sense of progress if misunderstood

4.Needs clear communication that "this will be thrown away"

Throwaway vs Evolutionary Prototyping (most common comparison)