This is an overview of the development timeline for many Public Lab tools and techniques. Not all Public Lab tools follow this exact sequence, but this reflects some common steps in the development of a new environmental monitoring technique. 

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We may mark tools like the [spectrometer](/wiki/spectrometer) or [WheeStat](/wiki/wheestat) with notices like:

<div class="alert">This tool is a <a href="/wiki/tool-development">prototype</a>; it is still under development by people like you</div>

<div class="alert alert-success">This tool has been <a href="/wiki/tool-development">thoroughly tested in the field</a>.</div>

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_something about different orders in which this might happen_ 

_some suggested major or minor milestones:_

###Problem definition

###Team building

###Background research

###Prototype