How to Demo Your App

As a software developer, you have to develop your skill in how to demo the products you build. A demo, or demonstration, is a way for you to show your application, your ideas, and your proof of concept! Generally demos are short (5-10 min) and provide your audience a clear idea of what you are building and what technologies you used to create the application.

Plan and Prepare

While planning what you will say in your demo, plan to include the following:

  • Introduce yourself
  • Share WHY you created your application
  • Share the technologies you used
  • Highlight any challenges that you came across in creating your app
  • Discuss what you want to do in the future
  • Time for questions from the audience

Also, it’s ideal that your talking points are on slides, and essential that you show the app itself:

  • Make sure the audience can see your screen
  • Create slides that highlight your talking points
  • Practice connecting to the screen you are presenting on
  • Make sure your audience can see the screen from anywhere in the room

Try It: Planning a Demo

With your group, discuss and write down your answers to the planning questions.

Then, select a Google Slides template you all like, and start making slides that highlight your talking points. Make sure to assign each slide to a group member, and make sure to give equal talking time to everyone!

Consider how you will show the functionality of your app - will you have up your real app on a simulator? Can you connect an iOS device to the projector/TV? A giphy recording of it? Who will do the clicking, and who will do the talking? Consider every little detail.

Now that you’ve planned a demo, it’s time to practice presenting it.

  • You should practice your presentation multiple times.
  • Use a timer when you practice.
  • Be comfortable with the words you are using.

Try It: Planning a Demo

With your group, do a run through of the demo (or two).

If you identify any changes you'd like to make to the flow of the presentation, the content, or anything else, go ahead!

Don’t Forget: HAVE FUN!

Your audience will be so excited and proud to see the app you built and all you’ve learned. You should be proud, too.

  • Project your voice so everyone can hear you
  • SMILE!
  • Make eye contact
  • Thank your audience

Final Demo Practice

Your instructors will schedule 1-2 practice times with you/your group before the final demos.

Resources

  • Screen Recording on iPhone or iPad
  • https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20-best-practices-technical-demos-presentations-girish-jain/
  • https://apptimize.com/blog/2014/02/how-to-give-a-great-app-demo/