What are Software Requirement Specifications? Why should I write them up before developing software?

In one of my first entrepreneurial ventures I needed some software written. It was a pretty basic application. It needed to take an HTTP call from a cell phone provider text messaging system and translate it over to text we could display on a screen. We were one of the first to develop the idea… we called it TAGG. It later adopted the name “text to screen” which is now industry standard. While it might seem pretty straightforward how I have described the software, at the time of commissioning the project it wasn’t. We weren’t sure what exactly we wanted/needed and how to get it.

Thankfully the programmer I brought on as a partner was very experienced and was able to lead me and the other partners into the process without too much trouble. One HUGE mistake we made Continue Reading »