[betaout]

Prototype can be as small as Wireframes, Product Specs, HTML mockups. You dont need to change/leave your job to do that.

If you have been living with the idea for few weeks/months are also very passionate about it. Three four nights or weekends are sufficient to start with the sketches and wireframes.

Once you have it ready, show it to few friends, industry experts you know and iterate until you will confident to take the next plunge. Because after that there is no going back.

[sown]

Perhaps my definition of prototype is wrong. I'm working towards a decent 1.0 version with very basic functionality that people might use.

I used to think that having a prototype was enough but now I hear that is not enough to talk to investors or people. I dunno.

[betaout]

Why don't you outsource some of the work. At least version 0.1 - you will get a working prototype and market validation as well.

[sown]

Perhaps but I think I would want to keep something like that close to my heart, not because I'm paranoid but because I really want to learn the code behind it so I know what's going on.

Besides, it's using technology I'm not used to and I need all the practice I can get.