Roadmap
· 6 min read
This milestone plan is structured to guide the development of a full-stack LLM application from ideation to full public launch, focusing on core functionality, testing, and iterative feedback.
Summary Table of Milestones
Milestone | Goal | Key Deliverables |
---|---|---|
1. Discovery and Planning | Define scope and architecture | Requirements doc, architecture diagram |
2. Core Infrastructure Setup | Set up essential infrastructure | Storage, databases, task queue |
3. Prototype Completion | Develop basic LLM functionality | Basic functional prototype |
4. Core Features Developed | Add document processing, caching, search | Feature-complete system |
5. Alpha Release | Internal testing and feedback | Stable alpha version |
6. Beta Release | Limited user testing and feedback | Beta version, user feedback |
7. Performance Optimization | Optimize performance and security | Optimized, secure application |
8. Public Launch Prep | Finalize for public release | Launch-ready product, documentation |
9. Public Launch | Release to all users | Publicly accessible application |
10. Post-Launch Improvements | Minor enhancements and bug fixes | Improved version with fixes |
11. Scaling and Maintenance | Ensure scalability and plan future growth | Scalable, maintained application |
Milestone 1: Discovery and Planning
- Goal: Define project requirements, key objectives, and architecture.
- Details:
- Conduct research on user needs, LLM capabilities, and expected system load.
- Define project scope, including the primary features and user stories.
- Outline initial system architecture (frontend, backend, cache, databases).
- Set up project repository, CI/CD pipelines, and preliminary development environment.
- Deliverables: Requirements document, architecture diagram, project timeline, and initial codebase setup.
Milestone 2: Core Infrastructure Setup
- Goal: Establish core infrastructure, including storage, databases, and background processing.
- Details:
- Set up and configure Document Storage (AWS S3 or MinIO), Vector Database (Qdrant), and Relational Database (SQL Server).
- Configure the background task queue (Celery on AWS Step Functions or similar) for asynchronous tasks like embedding documents.
- Establish serverless or managed services for storage and databases to reduce costs and improve scalability.
- Deliverables: Functional infrastructure with integration tests confirming connectivity and data storage.
Milestone 3: Prototype Completion
- Goal: Develop a functional prototype with basic LLM and embedding model integration.
- Details:
- Integrate the LLM API (e.g., OpenAI API) and embedding model (GPT or PhoBERT) for basic query processing.
- Build a simple frontend UI (NextJS) for users to submit queries and receive responses.
- Implement a basic API server (FastAPI on AWS Lambda) with reverse proxy (Nginx).
- Test end-to-end flow from user input to LLM response and back.
- Deliverables: Basic functional prototype enabling user queries and AI-generated responses.
Milestone 4: Core Features Developed
- Goal: Implement essential features like document processing, caching, and vector search.
- Details:
- Implement background tasks for document embedding and storage in the Vector Database.
- Add caching (Redis) for frequently accessed queries to improve response times.
- Build vector-based search functionality for finding similar documents based on embeddings.
- Refine UI and backend to support these features with scalability in mind.
- Deliverables: Feature-complete application with document embedding, caching, and search.
Milestone 5: Alpha Release (Internal Testing)
- Goal: Launch an internal version for testing core functionalities and performance.
- Details:
- Deploy to a test environment with restricted access for internal team members.
- Conduct usability testing for UI, API reliability, and system stability.
- Run initial performance tests to check if response times and throughput meet expectations.
- Collect internal feedback to refine UX and resolve major issues.
- Deliverables: Stable alpha version with feedback from internal testing and an updated backlog.
Milestone 6: Beta Release (Limited User Testing)
- Goal: Release a beta version for a limited audience to gather real user feedback.
- Details:
- Deploy to a production-like environment with limited access for select users.
- Implement logging and monitoring to capture usage patterns, errors, and bottlenecks.
- Integrate a feedback system to gather insights on user experience and response accuracy.
- Deliverables: Beta version with logging and analytics, and documented user feedback.
Milestone 7: Performance and Security Optimization
- Goal: Optimize the system for speed, efficiency, and security.
- Details:
- Optimize caching for frequently accessed responses.
- Review and optimize vector database queries for faster results.
- Conduct a security audit focused on data protection, authentication, and permissions.
- Run load testing to confirm system scalability.
- Deliverables: Performance-optimized, secure application ready for a wider release, with testing reports.
Milestone 8: Public Launch Preparation
- Goal: Finalize all details for a successful public release.
- Details:
- Complete final testing, including UAT (User Acceptance Testing), to ensure functional readiness.
- Finalize documentation for users and developers, including API docs and setup guides.
- Prepare marketing and user onboarding materials, if needed.
- Establish support channels for post-launch user queries.
- Deliverables: Launch-ready product, comprehensive documentation, and user onboarding resources.
Milestone 9: Version 1.0 - Public Launch
- Goal: Release the application to all intended users.
- Details:
- Officially launch the application with monitoring for critical issues.
- Monitor user activity and metrics for the first 24-48 hours to ensure stability.
- Provide support for major issues with a rapid response plan.
- Deliverables: Full public release with active user support and monitoring.
Milestone 10: Post-Launch Improvements (Version 1.1)
- Goal: Address post-launch feedback and add minor improvements.
- Details:
- Collect and analyze public feedback to identify improvement areas.
- Resolve post-launch issues or bugs based on user reports and monitoring.
- Implement minor feature enhancements or optimizations.
- Deliverables: Improved version with bug fixes, optimizations, and minor enhancements.
Milestone 11: Scaling and Maintenance (Ongoing)
- Goal: Ensure the application is scalable and well-maintained.
- Details:
- Review performance under varying loads to identify scaling needs.
- Set up maintenance plans for databases, storage, and serverless resources to optimize costs.
- Prioritize future feature requests for competitive advantage.
- Deliverables: Scalable, well-maintained application with a roadmap for future updates.
This plan provides a structured path from initial development to launch and ongoing maintenance, helping ensure that each stage is well-prepared and aligned with the project’s goals.