Functional Specification Document (FSD)
1. Document Information
- Title: Name of the web application (e.g., "Task Management Web App FSD").
- Version: Version number of the document (e.g., v1.0).
- Author(s): Names and roles of contributors (e.g., product manager, lead developer).
- Date: Creation or revision date (e.g., September 1, 2025).
- Approval: List of stakeholders who must review/approve the document.
- Change History: A table tracking document revisions, including version, date, and changes made.
2. Introduction
- Purpose: Brief explanation of the FSD’s goal (e.g., to define technical requirements for building the web app).
- Scope: Overview of what the web app will do and its boundaries (e.g., "A task management app for teams to assign, track, and complete tasks, excluding invoicing features").
- Audience: Who the document is for (e.g., developers, designers, QA team, stakeholders).
- Definitions and Acronyms: Key terms (e.g., API, UI, UX) and project-specific jargon.
3. System Overview
- App Description: High-level summary of the web app’s purpose and value (e.g., "A cloud-based platform to streamline team task collaboration").
- Objectives: Specific goals (e.g., improve team productivity, reduce task tracking errors).
- System Architecture: Overview of the technical structure (e.g., frontend in React, backend in Node.js, MongoDB database).
- Key Features: List of core functionalities (e.g., user authentication, task creation, notifications).
4. Functional Requirements
- Feature Breakdown: Detailed description of each feature, typically organized by module or user flow. For each feature:
- Feature Name: (e.g., "User Authentication").
- Description: What the feature does (e.g., "Allows users to register, log in, and reset passwords").
- Inputs: Data or user actions required (e.g., email, password).
- Outputs: Expected results (e.g., successful login redirects to dashboard).
- User Interface: Description of UI elements (e.g., login form with email and password fields).
- Dependencies: Other features or systems required (e.g., email service for password reset).
- User Roles and Permissions: Define roles (e.g., admin, team member) and their access levels (e.g., admins can delete tasks, users cannot).
- Workflows: Step-by-step user or system processes (e.g., "User submits task → System assigns task ID → Notification sent to assignee").
5. Non-Functional Requirements
- Performance: Expected response times (e.g., page load under 2 seconds).
- Scalability: Capacity to handle users (e.g., support 1,000 concurrent users).
- Security: Measures like encryption, authentication protocols (e.g., OAuth 2.0, HTTPS).
- Usability: Accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1 compliance).
- Reliability: Uptime requirements (e.g., 99.9% availability).
- Compatibility: Supported browsers/devices (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, mobile responsive).
6. Technical Specifications
- Frontend: Frameworks, libraries, or tools (e.g., React, Tailwind CSS).
- Backend: Server-side tech (e.g., Node.js, Express, REST API).
- Database: Structure and type (e.g., MongoDB with collections for users, tasks).
- APIs: Internal/external APIs, including endpoints (e.g., POST /api/tasks for task creation).
- Hosting/Deployment: Cloud provider or server setup (e.g., AWS, Docker).
- Data Models: Schema descriptions (e.g., Task: {id, title, assignee, due_date}).
7. User Interface and Experience
- Wireframes/Mockups: Reference to attached or linked UI designs (e.g., Figma links).
- Navigation Flow: How users move through the app (e.g., homepage → task list → task details).
- Error Handling: How errors are displayed (e.g., "Invalid email" alert on login failure).
8. Assumptions and Constraints
- Assumptions: Conditions assumed to be true (e.g., users have stable internet).
- Constraints: Limitations (e.g., budget, timeline, or tech stack restrictions).
9. Testing Requirements
- Unit Testing: Components to test (e.g., API endpoints, UI components).
- Integration Testing: How systems interact (e.g., frontend-backend communication).
- User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Criteria for user approval (e.g., task creation works as expected).
- Tools: Testing frameworks (e.g., Jest, Cypress).
10. Implementation Plan
- Timeline: Milestones and deadlines (e.g., MVP completion by Q4 2025).
- Resources: Team roles (e.g., 2 frontend developers, 1 backend developer).
- Risks: Potential issues and mitigation (e.g., "API downtime risk: implement fallback").
11. Appendices
- Glossary: Additional terms or acronyms.
- References: Related documents (e.g., PRD, wireframes).
- Diagrams: System architecture, data flow, or ERD (entity-relationship diagram).
- Mockup Links: External links to designs or prototypes.