Technical Validation (POC) Process

This skill guides users through the complete POC (Proof of Concept) validation process, from risk identification to final decision making.

When to Use

Invoke this skill when:

• User needs to conduct POC validation for a project
• User asks to create POC plans or reports
• User needs to verify technical feasibility
• User wants to validate key technologies before implementation
• User asks about POC best practices

Process Overview

The POC validation process consists of 8 steps:

1. Identify Key Risks
2. Create POC Plan
3. Setup Validation Environment
4. Execute POC Validation
5. Collect Validation Data
6. Analyze Validation Results
7. Write POC Report
8. Review and Decision

Detailed Steps

Step 1: Identify Key Risks

Goal: Identify high-risk technical points from technology selection

Risk Dimensions:

Dimension	Description	Example
Technology Maturity	New or unproven technologies	Latest framework version
Integration Complexity	Difficulty integrating with existing systems	Legacy system integration
Performance Requirements	High performance, high concurrency	Supporting 100k concurrent users
Security Requirements	High security level requirements	Financial-grade security
Team Capability	Technologies unfamiliar to the team	Technology team hasn't used

Output:

• Key risk list
• POC priority ranking

---

Step 2: Create POC Plan

Goal: Define POC scope, objectives, and resources

Plan Contents:

Item	Description	Example
POC Objective	What to validate	Validate OAuth2.0 SSO feasibility
Success Criteria	What counts as success	Login response < 500ms, support 100 concurrent
Validation Scope	What functions to validate	Login, logout, token refresh
Out of Scope	What NOT to do	No UI validation, not all scenarios
Timeline	Planned duration	3 working days
Resources	Personnel, environment	1 architect, 1 test server
Risk Assessment	Possible failure scenarios	Integration protocol incompatibility

POC Plan Template:

# POC Validation Plan

## Basic Information
- POC Name: SSO Single Sign-On Validation
- Owner: Architect
- Timeline: 2026-03-10 to 2026-03-12

## Validation Objective
Validate the technical feasibility of OAuth2.0-based SSO solution

## Success Criteria
1. Users can login through unified authentication center
2. After login, can access multiple subsystems without re-authentication
3. Login response time < 500ms
4. Support 100 concurrent users

## Validation Scope
- ✅ User login flow
- ✅ Token generation and validation
- ✅ Single Sign-On (multi-system)
- ✅ Single Logout
- ❌ UI interface (use Postman for testing)
- ❌ All exception scenarios (only main scenarios)

## Resource Requirements
- Personnel: 1 architect
- Environment: 1 server (4C8G)
- Tools: IDEA, Postman, JMeter

## Risks and Mitigation
| Risk | Mitigation |
|------|------------|
| Difficulty integrating with existing identity source | Prepare mock data |

---

Step 3: Setup Validation Environment

Goal: Prepare hardware, software, and data environment for POC

Environment Checklist:

Category	Item	Description
Hardware	Server	Configure according to POC requirements
Software	Basic Software	JDK, database, middleware, etc.
Software	POC Code	Write minimal validation code
Data	Test Data	Prepare sufficient test data
Tools	Testing Tools	JMeter, Postman, etc.
Tools	Monitoring Tools	Performance monitoring, log analysis

Environment Isolation Principles:

• POC environment independent from dev/test/prod environments
• Avoid POC affecting other environments
• POC data can be reset at will

---

Step 4: Execute POC Validation

Goal: Execute validation according to plan

Execution Principles:

1. Follow the plan: Execute strictly according to POC plan, don't expand scope arbitrarily
2. Detailed recording: Record each step's operation and result
3. Issue tracking: Record issues immediately, don't solve immediately (unless blocking)
4. Data collection: Collect performance data, error logs, etc.

Execution Process Record:

## POC Execution Record

### 2026-03-10
#### Morning
- [x] Setup Spring Authorization Server
- [x] Configure OAuth2.0 client
- [x] Implement login interface

#### Afternoon
- [x] Test authorization code mode
- [x] Test token generation
- [x] Issue found: Token expiration time config not working
  - Cause: Wrong configuration item name
  - Solution: Correct configuration item name

### 2026-03-11
#### Morning
- [x] Setup business system
- [x] Integrate Spring Security OAuth2
...

---

Step 5: Collect Validation Data

Goal: Collect all data during POC process

Data Types:

Data Type	Content	Purpose
Performance Data	Response time, TPS, resource usage	Evaluate if performance meets standards
Function Data	Function test results	Verify function completeness
Issue Records	Discovered issues, solutions	Evaluate technical risks
Configuration Data	Key configuration items	Provide reference for implementation
Code Examples	Key code snippets	Provide reference for development

Data Collection Template:

## POC Data Collection

### Performance Data
| Scenario | Concurrent | Avg Response | P95 | TPS |
|----------|-----------|-------------|-----|-----|
| User Login | 50 | 180ms | 280ms | 278 |
| User Login | 100 | 220ms | 350ms | 455 |

### Issue Records
| Issue | Severity | Solution | Impact |
|-------|----------|----------|--------|
| Token expiration config not working | Low | Correct config item | None |

### Key Configuration
```yaml
spring:
  security:
    oauth2:
      authorizationserver:
        client:
          registration:
            client-id: system-platform
            client-secret: secret

---

### Step 6: Analyze Validation Results

**Goal:** Compare with expected objectives, draw POC conclusions

**Analysis Dimensions:**

| Dimension | Analysis Content | Conclusion |
|-----------|-----------------|------------|
| Function Validation | Whether function is implemented | Pass/Fail |
| Performance Validation | Whether performance meets standards | Pass/Fail |
| Issue Statistics | Issue count, severity | Acceptable/Needs Improvement |
| Implementation Difficulty | Implementation complexity assessment | Simple/Medium/Complex |
| Risk Assessment | Technical risk level | Low/Medium/High |

**Conclusion Determination:**

| Conclusion | Criteria | Follow-up Action |
|------------|----------|-----------------|
| **Pass** | Meet all success criteria, no major risks | Adopt the technology solution |
| **Conditional Pass** | Basically meet, with minor issues | Adopt, but need to solve issues |
| **Fail** | Don't meet key success criteria | Don't adopt, find alternative |

---

### Step 7: Write POC Report

**Goal:** Form formal POC validation report

**Report Structure:**
```markdown
# XXX POC Validation Report

## 1. POC Objective
## 2. Validation Environment
## 3. Validation Content
## 4. Validation Results
## 5. Issues and Solutions
## 6. Validation Conclusion
## 7. Next Actions

Report Requirements:

• Objective recording, no exaggeration of results
• Don't avoid issues, record truthfully
• Provide reproducible test steps
• Give clear technical recommendations

---

Step 8: Review and Decision

Goal: Through technical review, decide whether to adopt the technology solution

Review Content:

• [ ] Whether POC objectives are achieved
• [ ] Whether validation data is sufficient
• [ ] Whether discovered issues have solutions
• [ ] Whether technical risks are acceptable
• [ ] Whether implementation costs are reasonable

Decision Options:

1. Adopt: Technology solution is feasible, enter design phase
2. Adopt after Optimization: Basically feasible, need optimization before adoption
3. Don't Adopt: Technology solution is not feasible, need re-selection

---

POC Types

Common POC Types

POC Type	Validation Focus	Typical Scenario
Function POC	Function feasibility	New features, new capability validation
Performance POC	Performance metrics	High concurrency, large data volume
Integration POC	Integration feasibility	Integration with third-party systems
Security POC	Security mechanisms	Authentication, encryption, protection
Compatibility POC	Compatibility	Browser, device compatibility

POC Type Selection Guide

When the following situations exist in technology selection, POC is recommended:

New Technology/Framework ──→ Function POC ──→ Verify if core functions work
              
High Concurrency Requirements ──→ Performance POC ──→ Verify if performance meets standards
              
Third-party Integration ──→ Integration POC ──→ Verify integration feasibility
              
High Security Requirements ──→ Security POC ──→ Verify security mechanism effectiveness

---

Best Practices

POC Success Factors

1. Clear Objectives: POC objectives should be specific and measurable
2. Controllable Scope: Control POC scope, avoid scope creep
3. Independent Environment: POC environment independent from other environments
4. Sufficient Data: Collect enough data to support conclusions
5. Objective Recording: Record truthfully, not selectively

Common Pitfalls

Pitfall	Description	Avoidance Method
Scope Creep	POC keeps growing	Strictly follow POC plan
Over-optimization	Over-optimize during POC phase	POC code not for production
Insufficient Data	Lack sufficient data to support conclusions	Plan data collection in advance
Subjective Judgment	Make conclusions based on feeling	Let data speak
Ignore Issues	Turn a blind eye to discovered issues	Record all issues truthfully

Difference Between POC and Production Code

Aspect	POC Code	Production Code
Objective	Verify feasibility	Stable operation
Quality	Runnable is enough	High quality, maintainable
Exception Handling	Main scenarios	Full scenario coverage
Performance Optimization	Basically usable	Deep optimization
Security	Basic security	Comprehensive security
Maintainability	Not required	High requirement

Important Principle: POC code is NOT directly used in production!

---

Checklist

Pre-POC Checklist

• [ ] Key technical risks identified
• [ ] POC plan created and reviewed
• [ ] Validation environment ready
• [ ] Test data prepared sufficiently
• [ ] Relevant personnel roles clarified

During POC Checklist

• [ ] Execute according to plan, don't expand scope arbitrarily
• [ ] Record execution process in detail
• [ ] Record discovered issues promptly
• [ ] Collect sufficient validation data
• [ ] Maintain communication with stakeholders

Post-POC Checklist

• [ ] POC report completed
• [ ] Validation data organized
• [ ] Conclusion clear (pass/fail)
• [ ] Issues have solutions
• [ ] Technical review completed

---

Output Checklist

• [ ] POC validation plan
• [ ] POC execution records
• [ ] Validation data collection
• [ ] POC validation report
• [ ] Technical review conclusion