Specification
TopCoder Project Managers (PM) moderate the TopCoder Software Forums to gather requirements about a new Component Project. Once the project scope has been determined, the PM creates a Requirements Specification for the Design Phase of the project. New projects are regularly posted to the TopCoder Software Development site and emails are sent out to members notifying them of the new projects.

Architecture and Design
The PM creates an Architecture Review Board made up of three TopCoder members who regularly submit designs. Submitted designs are scored using a standardized scorecard. The design with the best score above the minimum score is chosen for the project. The winning designer is given additional time to incorporate suggestions from the Review Board. If the time frame is not met, the designer will be disqualified and the next design, in order of score, will be declared the winner. Once a winning design is determined, the PM posts the Development Phase of the project on the TopCoder Software Development page.

Development and Testing
The PM creates a Development Review Board made up of three TopCoder members who regularly submit development proposals for TopCoder Software Projects. Submitted development solutions are scored using a standardized scorecard. The development submission with the best score above the miniumum score is chosen for the project. The winning developer is given additional time to incorporate suggestions from the Review Board. If the time frame is not met, the developer is disqualified and the next design in order of score will be declared the winner.

Complete
A complete TopCoder Software Component is added to a Component Catalog and is ready for download by subscribers. It has been thoroughly tested to ensure acceptable performance, accuracy of results, and abillity to handle bad data and incorrect usage. Extensive documentation is downloaded along with the component. Customers, the PM and other TopCoder members interact in the Software Forums to discuss the current complete version of the component, as well as make suggestions for future versions of the component.

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