What should be included in a comprehensive technical specification?
The technical specification for an online store like dx.com should cover various areas, including content, website development time, multilingual support, general requirements, services presented on the site, and content management system (CMS) requirements.
Beyond these, it's important to consider the catalog structure, product characteristics, and product images. Additionally, store management features, website design and management, feedback mechanisms, and order processing should be addressed.
Accounting for goods in the warehouse, search engine optimization strategies, payment systems, and currencies are also crucial aspects to include. The operation speed, addressing how the site handles product out of stock, implementing an online consultant, and ensuring smooth delivery of goods are essential.
Seller registration procedures, layout requirements, encoding and DOCTYPE specifications, and cross-browser compatibility ensure the site is accessible across different devices. Incorporating micro markup, microformats, and micro markup standards contribute to improved user experience. The website should display correctly on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and it should remain functional even with images turned off.
Considering HTML5 forms, correct tag structure, performance when JavaScript is disabled, and performance when Flash is turned off are all important for smooth operation. Layout style features, search engine optimization requirements, and an appendix to the terms of reference are also worth including.
While this list covers many aspects, it's essential to continuously update and improve the technical specification to stay aligned with evolving technological trends and user expectations.
A comprehensive technical specification for an online store like dx.com should cover various areas, including:
1. Content: Specify the types of content that will be included on the website, such as text, images, videos, and other media.
2. Website development time: Define the timeline for the development process, including milestones and deadlines.
3. Multilingual support: Determine the languages in which the website will be available and any specific requirements for translating and displaying content in different languages.
4. General requirements: Outline the overall goals and objectives of the website, including its target audience, purpose, and key features.
5. Services presented on the site: Describe the specific products or services that will be offered on the website, including their features, pricing, and availability.
6. Content Management System (CMS) requirements: Specify the CMS platform that will be used to manage the website's content and any specific functionalities needed.
7. Catalog structure: Define the organization and structure of the product catalog, including categories, subcategories, and product attributes.
8. Product characteristics: Outline the specific details and attributes that will be associated with each product, such as size, color, specifications, and pricing.
9. Product images: Specify the requirements for product images, including resolution, format, and any image editing or processing needed.
10. Store management features: Identify the administrative features and tools that will be included in the website's backend for managing products, orders, customers, and inventory.
11. Website design and management: Detail the visual design requirements, including branding guidelines, color schemes, typography, and layout preferences.
12. Feedback mechanisms: Specify how customer feedback, reviews, and ratings will be collected and displayed on the website.
13. Order processing: Define the order placement, payment processing, and fulfillment processes, including any integration with third-party payment gateways and shipping providers.
14. Warehouse management: Address how goods will be managed and tracked in the warehouse, including inventory management and stock availability.
15. Search engine optimization strategies: Include requirements for optimizing the website's content, metadata, URL structure, and other elements for improved search engine visibility.
16. Payment systems and currencies: Specify the payment methods that will be accepted on the website and the currencies in which transactions will be conducted.
17. Performance and speed: Define the expected website performance, including page load times, server response times, and scalability considerations.
18. Online consultant: Determine if an online chat or support system will be implemented and specify any related requirements.
19. Delivery of goods: Address how goods will be packaged, shipped, and delivered to customers, including any integration with shipping providers and tracking mechanisms.
20. Seller registration procedures: If the website allows external sellers or vendors, outline the registration process and any associated requirements.
21. Layout requirements: Specify any specific layout or design requirements for different pages or sections of the website.
22. Encoding and DOCTYPE specifications: Define the character encoding and HTML DOCTYPE that will be used for the website.
23. Cross-browser compatibility: Ensure that the website displays correctly and functions properly on different web browsers and operating systems.
24. Micro markup, microformats, and micro markup standards: Consider implementing structured data formats and standards to improve search engine visibility and enhance user experience.
25. Accessibility: Ensure that the website meets accessibility standards and guidelines, making it usable for people with disabilities.
26. HTML5 forms and correct tag structure: Include requirements for using HTML5 forms and ensuring proper HTML tag usage for semantic markup.
28. Layout style features: Specify any specific layout style features, such as responsive design, adaptive layouts, or fluid grid systems.
29. Search engine optimization requirements: Provide guidelines for optimizing the website's content, structure, and technical elements to improve search engine rankings.
30. Appendix to the terms of reference: Include any additional supporting dоcuments, references, or resources that are relevant to the technical specification.
You lack a clear structure of the technical specifications. I propose two options for revision:
1) Quick approach. Begin by adding sections to the beginning of the specification that outline the purpose of the online store and the tasks required to achieve the goal. Then, describe the structure of the information model (IM) and elaborate on each page of the structure, specifying the desired functionality, interface behavior, and so on. Once the pages are described, include other important project requirements such as SEO, multilingual support, data transfer (if applicable), admin panel, layout, etc.
2) More detailed approach. Follow the steps outlined in option 1 and additionally include a section that describes the entities, lists, and functionality used in the IM. For instance:
- Data type "News" with attributes "Title (string)" and "Content (html)"
- The "News" list, consisting of news items (data type "News"), sorted by date in descending order
In the page descriptions, make references to the corresponding entities, lists, and functionality. For example, the "News" page should feature a list displaying news articles, with each list element serving as a link to the corresponding news page.
This approach will help us refine the project's logic and identify any conflicting or ambiguous aspects during the design phase.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that if the current form of the technical specification guarantees a shared understanding among all project participants and covers all necessary points, there may be no need for additional work.
When creating technical specifications, I follow a logical approach - clarifying anything that is unclear or non-standard. I assess the project's risks to identify the elements with the highest risks and prioritize describing them. Interestingly, I never plan the content explicitly; it automatically generates through the "auto-content" feature in Word.
Once I finish writing, I format the dоcument and rearrange the text for aesthetic purposes. While drafting the specifications, I write without a specific structure in mind. Then I pass it on to the developer and tester for evaluation. They provide feedback on any unclear aspects or suggest alternative descriptions if mine are inaccessible or incorrect. Next, I incorporate their edits and present them to management for approval. Management also adds their input, and eventually, we can share the specifications with the client.
To avoid wasting time on irrelevant details, we constantly involve the client throughout the writing process. This ensures that we don't spend two weeks crafting useless content that the client does not need. It's an efficient way to align our efforts with the client's requirements and expectations.
Front matter. Title. Author(s)
Introduction. a. Overview, Problem Description, Summary, or Abstract.
Solutions. a. Current or Existing Solution / Design.
Further Considerations: a. Impact on other teams.
Success Evaluation.: Impact.
Work. a. Work estimates and timelines.
Deliberation. a.
End Matter. a.
It should cover the core stack - frontend, backend, and CMS - while detailing catalog structure, product specs, and image optimization for fast load times. Multilingual support and cross-browser compatibility are non-negotiable to avoid UX disasters.
Payment gateways, SEO juice, and micro markup are must-haves to boost visibility and conversions. Don't skimp on performance metrics like page speed or handling out-of-stock scenarios, these are deal-breakers for users. Also, ensure the spec outlines responsive design, HTML5 form validation, and fallback options if JS or Flash tanks.
A technical specification requires clear objectives, detailed functionality, system requirements, design constraints, performance metrics and compliance standards to guide accurate development and implementation.
A technical specification should clearly define requirements, design details, materials, standards, testing methods and performance criteria to ensure the product or service meets its intended purpose and quality.
A technical specification should include clear requirements, functional details, performance standards, design constraints, compliance criteria, testing methods and dоcumentation. This is to ensure accurate development and quality assurance.
Requirements for a technical specification include clear objectives, detailed functionality, performance criteria, design constraints, compliance standards, user requirements and acceptance criteria to ensure accurate implementation and testing.
Technical specifications should clearly define the purpose, scope, and functionality of the project. This dоcument should contain detailed requirements such as system architecture, hardware/software requirements, data flow, performance metrics, and security standards. The dоcument should also describe user interfaces, integration points, testing procedures, and timelines. The use of clear language, diagrams, and version control are essential. It is important to ensure that all stakeholders understand what is being built and how it will operate.