Post-mortem assessment of interface changes for an evolving, object-oriented, “not-so-rapid” prototype

During the past six years, the MITRE Corporation has implemented a series of not-so-rapid prototypes demonstrating to the U.S. Air Force the application of object-oriented technology to tactical information processing problems. Not-so-rapid prototyping describes the development of software proofs of concept that demonstrate the look and feel of automated solutions, subject to a rigorous deadline. Much of the underlying functionality of the prototype must be developed, however, nearly to the level of a beta version, but within a relatively short time period. This enables intermediate versions of the software to be demonstrated and exercised in a real-time, operational environment to help identify system requirements that continue to grow and change even during the prototyping effort.