Learn Operating Web Based Application ”Project Management – Web Based Application development” for CBSE Class 10 and 12, Lesson 9

Project Management – Web Based Application development

A web application is a program that is stored on a remote server. A web application is online as it is delivered over the Internet through a web browser interface. A web application may be of different kinds, like, a quiz, a game or a bill calculator. Web based application development involves the process of developing web applications.

A project is a task that is undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. Some of the key characteristics of a project are as follows –

• The extent of the project is defined. It has boundaries. A project has a beginning and an end.
• A project requires finite resources. These are the tasks, tools etc. that are required to complete the project.
• A project has a specific time frame. It has a definite beginning and end dates.
• A project is complete when its end objectives are achieved.The objective is specific and identifiable.

Project Management is the process of achieving the objectives of the project through a set of activities defined within the time frame, to produce the end result.It is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet theproject requirements.

Project essentials and tips

We have learnt about so many different web applications in the previous sections. In this section, a structured and simplified process is described for the development of web based applications.Let us discuss how the web applications are created.

Phases in a Web Application Project

The process of the development of web based application is broadly categorized in four phases. During the developing process,one needs to follow the following four main phases of development-

1. Requirements definition
2. Design
3. Implementation
4. Test

Additionally, for all these phases there is a Planning and Monitoring phase. A project plan lists the activities that are required to be monitored during project execution. For each activity a set of information useful for its monitoring is defined, like, duration, costs,schedule, resources required, and risk involved.

For developing web based applications, we discuss the steps to be performed during the four phases of development, as follows-

1. Requirement Definition:Identify the problem statement for which the web application is to be developed. Identify the scope of the problem.
   1. Feasibility- Is the project feasible?
      1. Check whether the project is technically feasible (it is possible to do it).
      2. Check whether the project is economically feasible (it is profitable),

• If feasible, proceed further, otherwise there is no need to proceed with the project.

1. Scope –The focus is on “what” the application must do. To define the scope of the application
   1. Compile a detailed list with a clear description of application features.
   2. Establish the goals that the solution must achieve.

• Recognizing the limitations that are placed on the project.

2. Design: The focus is on “how” the application is to be designed.
   1. A Map of the Web Application Site –It contains essential information about the structure of the site – the pages and the relationships between them. Thus, we have a map with pages and a path connecting them. We have to simply implement the pages and follow the path to connect them.
   2. Database – Design the application database.
      1. Identify the database tables that will be required in the application.
      2. Decide the table structures – the attributes of the tables, their data types, the sizes of the columns in the tables, the relationship between tables.
   3. Page Structure– Design the structure of page
      1. Identify the main sections of the page, like, header, mainContent, sidebar etc.
   4. Implementation: Create backend database, frontend and the connectivity between them.
      1. Backend Database –Create the database and write SQL code defining tables, attributes and relationships, as per the requirement of the application.
      2. Frontend – Develop the frontend of the application as per the requirement. Use the Page Structure and the Page Layout you defined in Design phase to implement the frontend code. Identify the inputs that are required to be taken from the user in the Front-End of the application. Decide the kind of buttons you will provide to the user, to minimize the user’s tying effort, like, Radio buttons, checkbox, list, combo box etc.
      3. Data Connectivity –Establish the data connectivity between the Front-End interface and Back-End Database.
   5. Test: Test the complete application (Front-End and Back-End) with multiple sample sets of data. Find all the application bugs and fix them. Test each page of the application and test each feature of the application. Since fixing an error involves modifying the code, validate the modified code also. After final validation, the application is ready for release.

We shall now discuss three case studies that will use the project management steps of the web based application development.