Chapter 3: Requirement Analysis
3.1 Feasibility Study
3.1.1 Technical Feasibility
Familiarity with Applications:
- The target learners and educators in our region are already familiar with mobile educational apps and interactive tutorials (e.g. Duolingo, Code.org) in Arabic. Using a gamified, Arabic-language interface makes the platform intuitive; users require no extra training to log in, practice coding, or track progress.
- Core team members have experience building web/mobile learning tools, so we understand typical user workflows (account setup, interactive lessons).
- Because the UI and content are in Arabic, language barriers are eliminated, further smoothing the learning curve for beginners.
Familiarity with Technology:
- Our team has strong expertise in the chosen tech stack: we have built Vue/Nuxt.js and .NET applications before and are proficient with SQL Server databases. This means we can efficiently develop the front-end UI and the back-end server.
- We have experience with embedding real-time code editors (the platform will use Microsoft's Monaco Editor, the same engine as VS Code) and handling Python and JavaScript code execution on the server.
- We are comfortable working with AI APIs; in past projects we have integrated services (e.g. OpenAI APIs) and we can similarly use OpenRouter to connect to the Gemini API for intelligent hints. Overall, our familiarity is high and we have confidence that we have the coding, design, and integration skills needed to implement all planned features.
Project Size:
- The core team will include about 6 members (detailed below), which is appropriate for a mid-size project.
- The platform's scope involves a moderate variety of features: a real-time code editor (supporting Python and JS), gamification mechanics (XP, badges, streaks, daily goals), AI-driven hints. This is a mid-level complexity for an experienced team.
- The development timeline is relatively tight: with a target launch by May 2026 (about 6 months from planning start), the schedule is ambitious. However, by assigning parallel sprints for front-end, back-end, and content creation, and by leveraging reusable components (Nuxt/Vue libraries, Monaco Editor, etc.), we believe the team can meet this deadline.
3.1.2 Organizational Feasibility
Project Advisor: Dr. Rehab Emad El-Dein
Project Manager: Eng. Mohamed Farag
Champion: The development team and supervisors provide time and effort for the system.
System Users:
- Learners: Arabic-speaking students and self-learners who use the platform to learn programming through structured courses, interactive exercises, and real-time code challenges. They earn XP, badges, and streaks as they progress.
- Mentors/Instructors: More experienced developers or educators who contribute by answering questions, reviewing user code, curating content, and moderating the community. Mentors help ensure quality and provide additional support (similar to Duolingo "language mentors").
- Administrators/Content Creators: A small team of admins who upload new course material, monitor the system, and handle technical support.
Development Team Breakdown: The team is organized into specialized roles with overlapping collaboration to ensure flexibility:
Back-end Developers (2):
Build and maintain the server-side logic in .NET, manage the SQL Server database, and implement APIs. One of the back-end developers will also take on DevOps responsibilities, handling cloud infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and security. Together, they will also implement real-time code execution and integration with AI APIs.Front-end Developers (2):
Develop the user interface using Nuxt.js, ensuring a responsive and intuitive design across desktop and mobile browsers. They will integrate the Monaco editor, implement gamification features (XP, badges, leaderboards), and collaborate closely with the mobile developer to keep design consistent.Mobile Developer (1):
Focuses on building and optimizing the mobile application version of the platform, ensuring a smooth experience on iOS and Android. Works with front-end and back-end teams for synchronization and performance.AI Engineer (1):
Specializes in integrating AI features, including intelligent hints and personalized feedback, through APIs like OpenRouter/Gemini. This role also explores adaptive learning models to tailor exercises to each learner's progress.Content & Instructional Design (shared responsibility):
Instead of dedicated content creators, all team members will collaborate on producing and localizing course material in Arabic. This includes designing structured lessons, writing exercises, and embedding gamification mechanics. Team members' technical expertise ensures content is accurate, while shared responsibility distributes workload evenly.
3.1.3 Economic Feasibility
Tangible Benefits:
- Course Revenue: With a pay-per-course model at an average price of $30 per course, enrolling 5,000 users in Year 1 (our target) would generate roughly $150,000 in Year-1 sales. As user growth continues, Year 2 and 3 revenues could be, for example, $225,000 and $300,000 (assuming 50% year-over-year user growth).
- Additional Revenue Streams: We can develop premium content or certification services in later years (e.g. advanced courses, official completion certificates) to create new revenue. Partnerships or bulk licenses with schools or companies could also add income.
- Economies of Scale: Because hosting and maintenance costs (see below) are largely fixed per year, each additional user above Year 1 yields mostly profit. For instance, once we cover the $20,000/year hosting expense and $50,000/year marketing, further enrollments significantly improve margins.
Intangible Benefits:
- Learner Engagement: The gamified, Duolingo-style approach will keep students motivated. Studies show gamification (points, streaks, badges) significantly boosts user engagement and retention. By making coding fun and rewarding, we help learners persist.
- Education Impact: Providing coding education in Arabic removes language barriers and makes computer science more accessible. This can broaden participation in tech education and help develop local talent in programming.
- Brand and Market Position: Successfully launching this platform will position our team as innovators in Arabic EdTech. Positive reputation and user testimonials will attract future investments, partnerships, and possibly expansion into new topics or markets.
Development and Operational Costs (Years 0–3):
| Item | Year 0 | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development (one-time) | $280,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $280,000 |
| Dev team salaries | $180,000 | – | – | – | $180,000 |
| Content creation | $100,000 | – | – | – | $100,000 |
| Hosting/AI/maint. | $0 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $60,000 |
| Marketing | $0 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $150,000 |
| Total Cost | $280,000 | $70,000 | $70,000 | $70,000 | $490,000 |
ROI and Cumulative Net:
| Metric | Year 0 | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $0 | $150,000 | $225,000 | $300,000 | $675,000 |
| Total Cost | $280,000 | $70,000 | $70,000 | $70,000 | $490,000 |
| Net Profit | -$280,000 | $80,000 | $155,000 | $230,000 | $185,000 |
| Cumulative Net | -$280,000 | -$200,000 | -$45,000 | $185,000 | — |
3-Year ROI: $185,000 ÷ $490,000 ≈ 37.8%
Break-even Analysis
The break-even point occurs when cumulative revenue surpasses cumulative costs:
- Year 1: Cumulative revenue = $150,000, cumulative cost = $350,000 → still negative (-$200,000).
- Year 2: Cumulative revenue = $375,000, cumulative cost = $420,000 → still negative (-$45,000).
- Year 3: Cumulative revenue = $675,000, cumulative cost = $490,000 → positive cumulative net ($185,000).
Therefore, the project is expected to break even during Year 3, after which all additional revenue contributes to profit.
To illustrate:
- Break-even revenue threshold: $490,000 (total 3-year cost).
- Achieved at ~16,333 paid enrollments (490,000 ÷ $30).
- Based on projected growth, this milestone will be reached in the third year of operation.
3.2 Risk Management
This section identifies key risks for the coding education platform across technical, operational, and legal domains. Each risk is assessed with a likelihood (Low/Medium/High), impact (Low/Medium/High), and mitigation strategies. Where appropriate, a qualitative risk matrix is used to emphasize prioritization.
3.2.1 Technical Risks
| Risk | Description | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scalability & Uptime | High traffic or data growth could overwhelm the platform. Without modular architecture and robust testing, performance bottlenecks and downtime can occur. | High | High | Design a scalable, microservices-based architecture; use horizontal scaling (load balancing, CDN, caching); implement automated testing and monitoring to detect and prevent bottlenecks. |
| External API Integration | Reliance on third-party APIs (e.g. Gemini, OpenRouter) can introduce outages or unpredictable behavior. Third-party services may have downtime or breaking changes. | Medium | High | Vet and monitor external APIs closely (uptime/SLA checks); implement timeouts and retries; use circuit breakers to protect against surges; prepare fallback or degraded modes if an API fails. |
| Real-time Code Execution | Running user-submitted code in real time is error-prone. Sandbox failures, resource exhaustion, or vulnerabilities could crash the executor, harming reliability. | Medium | High | Isolate execution in secure sandboxes or containers; enforce resource limits (memory/time); continuously test with diverse workloads; scale the execution engine separately; monitor and auto-recover. |
3.2.2 Operational Risks
| Risk | Description | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline Delays | Requirement changes, scope creep, or underestimation can derail schedules. Over-optimistic estimates may lead to extended deadlines. | High | High | Use thorough upfront planning and clear requirements; apply realistic time estimates with contingency; use agile sprints for incremental delivery and reviews. |
| Resource Constraints | Limited team size or skill shortages create bottlenecks. | Medium | High | Cross-train staff and onboard talent early; use contingent resources; maintain a pipeline of developers; forecast and reallocate workloads proactively. |
| Content Development Bottlenecks | Creating high-quality, engaging coding lessons and exercises is time-consuming, which can delay releases or reduce quality. | Medium | Medium | Develop content iteratively with SMEs; reuse or adapt existing materials; employ instructional designers; prioritize high-impact modules first. |
3.2.3 Legal & Compliance Risks
| Risk | Description | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Privacy (Minors) | Collecting data on children raises strict legal requirements (e.g., COPPA, GDPR). Failure to comply can cause severe penalties. | Medium | High | Apply "privacy by design": minimize data collection, encrypt sensitive data, obtain parental consent, maintain clear privacy policies, and conduct regular audits. |
| Copyright & Licensing | Using third-party or community code/assets risks license infringement. Even one noncompliant license could result in legal or financial penalties. | Low | Medium | Enforce strict review of all content/code; use license scanners; prefer permissive or original content; educate users on plagiarism; remediate infringing material. |
| Terms-of-Service Violations | Users may post disallowed content (hate speech, copyrighted code, malicious submissions) or cheat, violating the platform's ToS. | Medium | Medium | Publish comprehensive ToS; implement moderation and reporting tools; enforce rules via filters and manual review; respond promptly and revise policies regularly. |
3.3 Project plan
TO DO
3.4 Gantt Chart
TO DO