How to correctly draw up a TS for a website
Technical specifications (TS) are the foundation of successful website development. They help set clear goals, determine deadlines, and build a step-by-step action plan. Well-written technical specifications are a key document that affects the effectiveness of the project and the final result.
As part of the project documentation, technical specifications describe in detail:
– the functionality of the future website;
– its structure;
– design requirements;
– project implementation deadlines.
In essence, technical specifications serve as a roadmap for development. They ensure that all participants—the customer, manager, and developers — share a common understanding of the project. This approach simplifies communication and makes the process more predictable.
Using technical specifications offers several advantages, including:
– minimizing the risk of not meeting the customer’s expectations;
– formation of a reasonable budget and deadlines;
– reduction in the amount of rework;
– standardization of the website creation process;
– clear criteria for evaluating the quality of the finished product;
– timely identification and reduction of potential threats to the project.
Either the customer or the development team can initiate the creation of technical specifications. Typically, both parties participate in drafting the document. The customer provides a general vision of the product, which the team supplements.
TS structure
The main rule for drafting technical specifications is to maintain a clear and logical structure. Although there is no universal template, each team can draft the document in a format that is convenient for them. However, there are key sections that must appear in TS.
The document should contain a section with general information. This section must describe the type of website, its purpose, the characteristics of the target audience, and the client’s expectations. It is also essential to identify the primary tasks that the resource should accomplish.
Following that, the functional requirements should go into detail. This section lists the website’s main functionalities, such as whether it has a shopping cart or a feedback form. It also specifies the possibilities for integration with payment systems, CRM, and other services.
The section on non-functional requirements specifies parameters affecting the site’s convenience and stability. These include loading speed, mobile device adaptability, interface convenience, cross-browser compatibility, and other technical nuances.
The next stage is to describe the requirements for design and content. It is important to specify the UX/UI expectations in detail here, as this will help create an intuitive interface. Content requirements may include a description of publication types. For example, product cards and texts for sections and blogs.
It is also important to specify the technical parameters. This is where the technology on which the resource will be based is determined. Clarifying issues related to hosting, domain name, and other important details is also necessary.
Clearly, writing the TS directly affects the project’s success. Therefore, enough time should be allocated to create the document. All details should be discussed within the team and agreed upon with the client.