Once the design and structure of the site has been decided on, the development phase begins. This is where all the individual elements that comprise the site are created or obtained and assembled into pages. It is where the design acquires form. Page construction, programming, animations, video, and audio are all created in this stage. Once the elements are created and tested individually, they are assembled on the web pages according to the design and tested together. Needed and/or desired modifications are made at this time and, once signed off on by the development team, are published in a temporary directory on the actual site for the site owner and his or her associates to visit, test, and suggest modifications.  Minor changes are incorporated. Major changes outside the scope of the original approved plan are either tagged for inclusion in a future site upgrade or done using a separate work order. Flexibility is needed to take advantage when opportunities appear, but too many changes can cause delays and cost increases. A happy medium is always sought and  the incorporation of planning a second phase enables the medium to be reached.
 

Steps in the Development Process

Developing a web site involves several steps: creating, programming, assembling, and testing. These steps include the following tasks:

• Select a web hosting service and reserve the domain name
• Set up a temporary home page with a “Coming Soon” or “Under Construction” message with a logo and email link on the actual site.
• Create the individual elements to be used on the site
• Style Elements: Graphics, Buttons, Color Schemes
• Navigation Elements: Buttons, Navigation Bars, Rollovers, Drop Down Menus, Tree Structure
• Functional Elements: Forms, Search Tools
• Images and Photos
• Audio Segments - Script, record, edit, sweeten, compress
• Video Segments - Script, shoot, edit, digitize, compress
• Animation Sequences
• Develop the necessary programming
• Client side (HTML, XML, Javascript)
• Server side (Java, PHP, CGI, Perl)
• Assemble the elements and place them on the appropriate web pages
• Develop the server side applications, test, and integrate into site
• Stored on server.  Runs there, delivers output back to browser.
• Dynamic Pages: ASP/database accessing for page creation, updating
• Examples:
• Bulletin boards
• Password protection
• Streaming Video and Audio
• Shopping Carts
• Order and credit card processing
• Create the audio and video elements. Edit, compress and upload to web server for testing
• Test web pages and functions locally. Debug, revise, and retest.
• Development team signoff
• Deploy web site onto server in temp directory for client and associates to beta test. Debug, revise, and retest
• Client signoff