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Design Specifications Template

This document is a template for those individuals working on the Website project

Introduction

In this section include the following information:

  • Write about the websiteyou are working on. Provide detail when describing your Web Site. What are the main features of the website? Make this high-level as more detail will be given below.
  • Explain why the website you are working on is important to the overall success of the project your company is completing for the client. What do you believe are the client’s expectations for website (use your own words; do not copy directly from the assignment page)?
  • Add any storyboards, charts, or other illustrations that will help explain the features of the website and its purpose as part of the overall project McCall Southern is completing for the client.

Description of Architecture

In this section of the design specification, describe the overall design of the website. Include the following information:

  • Describe the required components of the website. Some questions to think about:
  • How many pages will you have?
  • How do you navigate from page to page?
  • What type of design layout are you planning to use?
  • Will you use cascading style sheets, etc.?
  • What items do you plan on placing on the website (navigation buttons, Titles, links, Graphics, forms)?
  • Describe how the website components work together. How do they function? Detail how one would actually access the website. Where is the website located and how do you access the website?
  • Add any charts or illustrations that will help describe the design and function of the website components.

Detailed Description of Components (See the attached Access database (database done during Unit 6) for more detailed information)

Hardware and software requirements needed by the developers:

List the specific hardware and software that you (as the developer) need in order to create the website. What web authoring software will you use? What graphic software will you use if any(it does not matter if you use Dreamweaver, FrontPage, Notepad, or some other authoring software, same for graphics software.)? What hardware is required - this is broken up into two sections. See below for more details:

  • List the specific software applications that your team will need.
  • Be sure to mention the specific name and version of each application.
  • Include all types of software applications needed, including operating systems, firewall and anti-virus applications, plus any other software you might use. Basically,what software do you need to have on your computer to create a website and manage the project (i.e., project management software).

** You do not need to have the software on your own computer to list it here.

** Consider using a table for this section.

Hardware and software requirements needed by the developers (continued):

  • List the hardware needed.
  • Include the specifications of each piece of hardware. For instance, for PCs, describe what features and capabilities the PC must have. Does the PC need to have a CD-ROM drive and/or a floppy drive? Will the PC need the ability to burn CDs? How fast should the PC’s processor be in order to quickly and efficiently read files? Will Internet access be needed? If, yes, would need a modem of some sort (be it a cable modem, DSL modem or a phone line modem). Remember that when you buy software there are minimum and recommended requirements that your PC must meet in order to run the software application, what are those requirements. This usually includes the Operating System, RAM, Hard Drive Free Space, and Processing Speed.

Less-expensive alternatives:

If project costs prohibit use of some or all of the required software and hardware needed to create the website, indicate what lower-cost items you can use as substitutes. List the cheaper alternatives in this section. For example, you select your favorite Graphics package, which is very expensive, so list an alternative. If you list the most expensive top of the line computer that has all the bells and whistles, what is one that is less expensive, but will still get the job done?

Hardware and software the clients and end users will need:

Clients:

  • List the specific software applications the client will need in order to use your website. Think about not only what they need to view the web site, but also what they need to have the website viewable and if your thought is that they will maintain and make changes to the website, what do they need to have. You do not need to say they need eight copies of Windows XP, just that they need XP.
  • Be sure to mention the specific name and version of each application.
  • Include all types of software applications needed, including operating systems, and firewall and anti-virus applications.
  • List the hardware the client will need in order to view and maintain the website. What do they need to view the website and host the website?
  • Include the specifications of each piece of hardware. For instance, for PCs, tell what features and capabilities the PC must have. Does the PC need to have a CD-ROM drive and/or a floppy drive? Will the PC need the ability to burn CDs? How fast should the PC’s processor be in order to quickly and efficient read files? Will Internet access be needed? If so, what kind of Internet connection will be needed?

Less-expensive alternatives:

If project costs prohibit the client from using all or some of the required software and hardware recommended to be used with the product, indicate what lower-cost items can be used as substitutes. List the cheaper alternatives in this section.

End users:

  • List the specific software applications that end-users would need to have to use the website.
  • Do they need any special equipment to chat with the Trainers or watch the videos?

This does not mean you have to purchase, you are just listing that they need a web browser of some sort, some type of software to connect to the Internet, etc.

  • Be sure to mention the specific name and version of each application.
  • Include all types of software applications needed, including operating systems, and firewall and anti-virus applications.
  • List the hardware end-users will need in order to use the website. Do they need any special equipment to chat with the Trainers or watch the videos?
  • Include the specifications of each piece of hardware. For instance, for PCs, tell what features and capabilities the PC must have. Does the PC need to have a CD-ROM drive and/or a floppy drive? Will the PC need the ability to burn CDs? How fast should the PC’s processor be in order to quickly and efficient read files? Will Internet access be needed? If so, what kind of Internet connection will be needed?

Less-expensive alternatives:

If project costs prohibit end-users from using all or some of the required software and hardware recommended to be used with the product, indicate what lower-cost items can be used as substitutes. List the cheaper alternatives in this section.

Relationship to the Completed Project

If your product is part of a larger project, describe how it relates to the overall project once it has been completed. How will it interact with the other products that have been created by other team members i.e.,how do you think the website you are working on is related to the new network that is being built and the program application that is being developed?

References

Do not forget to list your References and properly cite you information.

Other: When using this template, make sure you delete all the information other than the titles. To make that easier I have placed all text to be removed in Blue or Red.

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