Every successful piece of software starts with a problem. Perhaps your logistics company is running entirely on a massive, unstable Excel spreadsheet. Maybe you have a startup idea for a niche marketplace that Shopify can't handle. You know you need a Custom Web Application, but how do you translate that vague need into a concrete plan?
At Custom Coded Websites, we have rescued countless projects where the client started coding before they finished planning. Building bespoke software without requirements is like building a skyscraper without a blueprint—expensive and dangerous.
Here is your guide to gathering requirements for a robust, scalable Django web application.
1. Define the "Why" (The Business Case)
Before listing features, define the objective. "I want a dashboard" is not a requirement. "I want to reduce the time staff spend manually invoicing clients by 50%" is a requirement.
When we understand the business goal, we can write Python code that specifically solves that problem. If the goal is speed, we optimise for latency. If the goal is data integrity, we focus on strict database validation. Be specific about the ROI you expect.
2. Identify Your User Roles
One of the greatest strengths of the Django framework is its powerful user authentication system. Unlike generic website builders, we can create complex hierarchies of access.
Map out exactly who will use the system:
- Super Admins: (You) Full access to everything.
- Staff/Editors: Can manage orders or content but cannot delete users.
- End Users: Can only see their own data (critical for GDPR compliance).
- Auditors: Read-only access for compliance checking.
3. The MoSCoW Method
Scope creep is the enemy of software development. To keep your project on budget and on time, we recommend prioritising features using the MoSCoW method:
- Must Have: The non-negotiables. Without these, the app is useless (e.g., "Users must be able to log in").
- Should Have: Important but not vital for launch (e.g., "Users should be able to reset their own passwords via email").
- Could Have: Nice-to-haves (e.g., "Dark mode interface").
- Won't Have: Features we explicitly agree to exclude for now (e.g., "Mobile app integration").
4. Functional vs. Non-Functional Requirements
This is where many businesses get stuck. You naturally focus on what the app does (Functional), but developers need to know how the app behaves (Non-Functional).
Functional Requirements
"The system must generate a PDF invoice when an order is marked 'Complete'." "The user must be able to filter search results by location."
Non-Functional Requirements
These are the technical constraints that determine our architecture:
- Scalability: Do you expect 100 users or 100,000?
- Security: Does the app handle medical data or credit cards? This dictates our encryption standards.
- Performance: "The dashboard must load in under 2 seconds on a 4G connection."
5. The MVP Approach
We always encourage our London clients to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) first. Do not try to build a Ferrari when a skateboard will get you moving.
By launching a lean version of your custom app, you can gather real user feedback. Because we write clean, modular code, adding features later is easy. Rewriting a massive, bloated application because users didn't like the workflow is expensive.
Conclusion: Bridging the Gap
You are the expert on your business; we are the experts on the technology. A good requirements document bridges that gap, ensuring that the software we deliver is exactly the software you need.
Do you have an idea for a custom platform? Let's validate it.
Book a Free Technical Consultation and let's turn your requirements into a reality.