Here’s a mind-blowing question, how LHC is related to PoC in Software Development? Well, read on to find out the answer in this article of Coding as Creating.
It was in 1998 that the CERN decided to create a structure in which physics geeks could play with particles, making them collide. Large Hadron Collider (i.e. LHC) was then designed and built beneath France–Switzerland border near Geneva.
Here’s a Quick Tip!
Proof of Concept (PoC) is a method to generate a miniature version of a project/software to observe its practicality. This is done before a company launches the software as it could prove whether or not the current concept will pay off.
So, we’re talking about a time machine-like tool that is capable of showing you a small-but-vital fraction of the yet-to-come. Just as a good gambler, a Software Development Team uses this approach to predict what’s next—before the flop, turn, or river.
I know what you’re thinking about, “this is what I could find on Wikipedia; give me the answer of your goddam title already!” So, chill out… Here’s what you need to know about the catchy title of mine: LHC was meant to let the scientists conduct tiny experiments to explore the universe in major scales. This is almost what PoC in Software Development does for the DevOps engineers.
Developers Have LHCs Too
We, as developers, have our own LHC structures to help us inspect the future of software on a very tiny scale. It may not sound as cumbersome and badass as Large Hadron Collider; but hey, it’s comparably cool enough to save our butts!
Now that the title lost its mysteriousness, it’s time to explore the importance of Proof of Concept in Software Development projects. (But don’t worry; more mysterious abbreviations are about to show up).
PoC Wouldn’t Create a Black Hole in Your Wallet
When CERN introduced the idea of creating a platform to make the particles collide, Debbie Downers wasted no time to make up scary sci-fi stories. They proposed an idea which claimed the LHC would lead to the formation of a black hole on earth! [sigh].
However, since we’re all in one piece from 2008 up until now, it’s not hard to call them dead-wrongs.
LHC helped scientists estimate how things happen in large scales in space. [And by “things,” I mean some serious matters like Supersymmetry]. This is exactly what PoC in Software Development would allow us to do without losing thousands of dollars.
The best way of hanging onto the green power is to make the particles of your idea collide in small scales and see how it goes. It wouldn’t lead your company to go bankrupt; plus, it wouldn’t form a money-consuming black hole in your wallet. (So, shut the Debbie Downers up and do what you gotta do!).
Roses Are Still Red, Violets Are Somewhat Blue, and PoC Always Knocks the RFP Out
Has anyone tried to replace PoC in Software Development with another tactic? Hell yeah! We’re living in a world of innovations where everything has the replacement potential. However, the bigger question is whether the replaced method is as effective as Proof of Concept or not?
Well, it isn’t. RFP or Request for Proposal is one of the techniques with which the software development teams try to predict the future and probably raise funds accordingly. But it’s much more time- and money-consuming than the PoC. Moreover, the results of such an approach are mainly unreliable as the whole thing is just on paper!
Proof of Concept, on the other hand, gives you real-world data to form the basis of a project on.
You Have to Search for the Big in the Small
Investments are the blood in the veins of any Software Development project. And the ideas will soon die if they lose the investments as humans do in case of blood loss. So, how can a software engineer become the next Zuckerberg and avoid losing money after the launch?
TBH, it’s only through a proper upshot-estimation that one could dodge the blindshots. And to have a reliable approximation, you must analyze the minor version of the idea, generating a roadmap based on the tiny results. Otherwise, your company will top the list of the greatest failures, sharing the same fate with General Motors.
So, search the small to find the big; or, in other words, take small steps to check the height before jumping off the edge.
Please, Don’t be the Snoop Dogg of this Industry
You may be as ‘young, wild & free’ as Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg to neglect how awfully can a bad move ruin your career. But let me stop you tripping by reminding you of some losses in the industry caused by bad ideas. (See below).
In May 2000, a website hit the World Wide Web domain, claiming that it can provide the users with vital information about medicines. The owner of the website was an old man who had a long history working with all sorts of medical stuff—Dr. Gottschalk. So, it seemed like the Yelp of medical science is about to pop up.
Gottschalk had a professional team to design the website for him. And even Lee Egstrom, Founder, on Quora was on his side. However, the tragic part of the story is that you can now buy the domain of this website (IndexMedical.com) simply because they’ve failed…
It took them 2 years to design and lunch the website before it crashed down. But I personally believe that they could save thousands of dollars only if they had conducted a PoC process. I’m not sure if they spent any time proofing the concept as the brain of the team seemed to be very reliable. But trust me, the results wouldn’t be as tragic if they had gone through Proof of Concept process.
No PoC in Software development Is an All-In Right Before a Bad Beat in Poker
Remember the time when the Big Bang Theory’s Leonard spent thousands of dollars to buy himself a laser after assessing all the valuable scientific projects? [just don’t tell me you don’t know him].
Well, what he did is the exact example of how NOT to conduct a PoC. He inspected all the ideas and proposals in detail and then, in a sudden move, decided to deny all. Why? Because he wanted to have a cool laser in his office.
The upcoming events showed us Leonard regrets his decision as he can’t find a single project to use the laser for. However, it was already too late for a change-in-mind and he had no choice but coping with the consequences.
So, don’t be Leonard! Our world is not as cute as a sit-com universe and it will roast you after such mistakes.
Your time and money are what keep you alive in the industry. And Proof of Concept is the only tool you have to protect them.
“Don’t agree to go all-in pre-flop if you’re still not sure about the future of the project.”