WebAIPlanet

The Essential List of Custom Development Resources

If you choose custom development, you usually need to prepare a requirements list, page prototypes, design materials, content data, interface documentation, deployment environment and acceptance and maintenance plan first. It's not about simply applying templates, but advancing the project around business processes, functional logic, and long-term extensions.
fig. beginning / Resources for building websites / Custom Development Resources

snapshot

Customised development is suitable for projects with clear requirements and complex businesses

The focus of custom development is not to choose the technology first, but to sort out the business process, functional logic, page structure, data relationship and subsequent maintenance methods. It is suitable for projects that cannot be met by templates and SaaS, as well as for websites that have requirements for brand experience, system docking and long-term expansion.

more suitable

  • There are complex processes such as membership, orders, bookings, permissions or approvals
  • Need to interface with CRM, ERP, payments, SMS, email or internal systems
  • High demand for page experience, interaction details and brand presentation
  • Projects have long-term iteration, data deposition and expansion plans

Not necessarily suitable

  • Just need a simple showcase page or a general corporate website
  • Budget and cycle time are tight, hope to go live soon to verify the
  • I don't have a clear idea of what I want. I just want to “make a website” first.”
  • No one to follow up on acceptance, operations and maintenance iterations

technical direction

Identify needs before discussing technology selection

Technology is not the newer the better, but to match the project goals, functional complexity, team maintenance capabilities and subsequent expansion methods. Here we look at common directions first, and it is not recommended to get caught up in technology comparisons at the beginning.

Next.js

Official Website Common

Ideal for high-performance websites, marketing sites, content sites, and front-end/back-end separation projects, where the page experience and SEO performance are usually better controlled.

Suitable for: brand official website, marketing site, content platforms

Laravel (software)

Back Office Common

Suitable for middle and back office, form processes, membership logic, management systems and custom business functions with a better balance of development efficiency and maintainability.

Suitable for: business back office, membership system

Vue / React

interactive front end

It is suitable for front-end scenarios with more interactions, such as user centre, complex forms, interactive pages, operation background, etc., and is often combined with API back-end.

Suitable for: complex interactions, front-end systems

Node.js / Python / Java

Back-end extensions

Suitable for interface services, data processing, systems integration and enterprise level projects, often for more complex business platforms or internal systems.

Suitable for: interface development, system integration

List of resources

Custom development requires preparation of these resources

The checklist only addresses “what to prepare” and “when to prepare”. It is better to organise requirements, prototype, design, data and interface information into one project document before actually entering development.

List of requirements
necessarily
Pages, Functions, Roles, Processes, Back Office Administration and Boundary Descriptions
pre-quotation
Prototypes / Information Architecture
necessarily
Page layout, column hierarchy, user path, functional interaction
pre-design
Design / Brand Information
suggestion
Logo, brand colours, fonts, visual references, page design drafts
pre-development
Content material / Business data
necessarily
Company, Products, Services, Cases, Fields, Categories, Data Rules
pre-modelling
Interfaces / System Interfacing
on demand
Payments, SMS, Email, CRM, ERP, Maps, Login Authorisation
pre-scheduled
Technical Selection
suggestion
Front-end, back-end, database, CMS, third-party services and maintenance capabilities
When the need is clear
Server / Deployment Environment
necessarily
Test environments, formal environments, databases, object storage, logging and backups
pre-test
Testing / Acceptance / Maintenance
necessarily
Test cases, acceptance criteria, issue feedback, go-live rollbacks and maintenance plans
late stage of development

Resource details

Each type of resource looks at key points only, and then goes into the programme at the next step

The cards are used here to directly illustrate the role of each type of resource, the focus of preparation, and the entry point to the next step, to avoid making the page a bunch of review links. When you are really evaluating a solution, you can then go into the website building solution or project communication document to continue to refine it.

demand (economics)

Write down what you're going to do first

The list of requirements affects quoting, scheduling, staffing and subsequent acceptance. The sooner it is clear, the more rework can be reduced.

most critical ahead of technology
Confirm website positioning first →

archetype

Draw out the pages and the flow

The prototype is used to confirm the column structure, operation path, page hierarchy and interaction logic, especially suitable for projects with more functions.

page structure user path
Look at the custom development programme →

devise

Confirmation of branding and page presentation

Custom development is more suitable for projects with brand expression requirements, where design drafts, visual references and content styles directly affect the final texture.

Brand Information design drawings
Look at the structure of the corporate website →

Content / Data

Content and fields affect development realisation

Product categories, member fields, order fields, form fields and content relationships should all be made as clear as possible before development.

field plan Operational data
See the main resource page →

connector

Advance confirmation of third-party systems

Interfaces such as payments, SMS, email, CRM, ERP, maps and login authorisation can have a direct impact on scheduling and development difficulty.

API Documentation account access
Look at system-based programmes →

skill

Technology selection to service maintenance

Don't just look at the development phase, but also consider who will maintain it, how it will scale, how it will be deployed, and whether it will be easy to take over in the future.

maintainable scalable
See a comparison of building methods →

deployments

Prepare environment and backup before going live

Custom projects usually require test environments, formal environments, databases, logging, backups, monitoring and rollback solutions.

test environment Rollback programme
Look at the host and environment →

verify and accept (a delivery)

Write testing and maintenance into the plan

Going live with a custom project is not the end, there are acceptance criteria, feedback on issues, version iterations, security updates and maintenance responsibilities.

Receiving and Inspection Criteria Maintenance programme
Look at the on-line checklist →

Recommended Routes

Don't rush into custom development, set the project boundaries clearly first

The purpose of the resource page is not to have everything ready at once, but to know what will affect quoting, scheduling, development, and acceptance first. Most custom projects can move forward in this order.

01

Confirmation of objectives and boundaries

Be clear about what you are going to address first, and what you are not going to do should also be clearly written.

02

Collating a list of requirements

Pages, features, roles, backend, and interfaces are listed first.

03

Make prototypes and processes

Confirm user paths, operational flows, and page structures.

04

Prepare content and interfaces

Fill in the copy, images, fields, data and third party accounts.

05

Development Test Iteration

Accept it in stages, don't wait until it's all done to give feedback.

06

Online Maintenance

Configure backups, monitoring, permissions, documentation, and maintenance schedules.

the next step

After looking at the list of resources, continue by following these three actions

Don't get bogged down in technical details right away. Confirm whether you really need customisation first, then collate the project information, and finally move on to the evaluation of the options.

initial step

Confirmation of website positioning

second step

View Custom Development Solutions

third step

Prepare for on-line inspection

Other programme resources

If the custom development input is too heavy, you can switch routes

Back to Resources Overview

Build Your Own Website Resources

Domain names, hosting, programmes, themes, plugins and basic maintenance.

SaaS Website Building Resources

Platform accounts, packages, templates, domain bindings and content preparation.

AI Website Resources

Branding materials, cue words, first drafts of pages and subsequent optimisation.

Mixed programme resources

Multi-platform portfolio, data synchronisation and phase upgrades.