<P> Open - source tools like Fritzing exist to document electronic prototypes (especially the breadboard - based ones) and move toward physical production . Prototyping platforms such as Arduino also simplify the task of programming and interacting with a microcontroller . The developer can choose to deploy their invention as - is using the prototyping platform, or replace it with only the microcontroller chip and the circuitry that is relevant to their product . </P> <P> A technician can quickly build a prototype (and make additions and modifications) using these techniques, but for volume production it is much faster and usually cheaper to mass - produce custom printed circuit boards than to produce these other kinds of prototype boards . The proliferation of quick - turn PCB fabrication and assembly companies has enabled the concepts of rapid prototyping to be applied to electronic circuit design . It is now possible, even with the smallest passive components and largest fine - pitch packages, to have boards fabricated, assembled, and even tested in a matter of days . </P> <P> In many programming languages, a function prototype is the declaration of a subroutine or function (and should not be confused with software prototyping). This term is rather C / C++ - specific; other terms for this notion are signature, type and interface . In prototype - based programming (a form of object - oriented programming), new objects are produced by cloning existing objects, which are called prototypes . </P> <P> The term may also refer to the Prototype Javascript Framework . </P>

Proto types are especially important in the process of