Prototyping is essential to most greenfield development projects. Prototypes can be used to prove a concept, demonstrate an interface, or compare how diverse frameworks can be used to accomplish the same task. Prototypes are also very useful for customer communication.

A prototype may serve as the nucleus of development. It will fulfill one or more requirements itself and can be tested accordingly. It can be gradually enhanced to fulfill additional requirements or modified to represent requirement changes. Every enhancement iteration represents progress on the road to a formal solution.