I don't have much info on it but...

If you hunt some of the Drones out in the fields, you will find Drone Kernels that drop.  Take them into the Terminal, right-click and "research".  That will teach you how to make some things.  It's percentage based - 100% means you can make that item.  Less than 100% means you still need to learn how to make it, so you need more Kernels.

It seems to automatically advance for a type as you learn.  So you learn basic ammo, then slightly more advanced versions/variations as you keep working that type of Kernel.

There's also some info on how to scan for "artifacts" that you may wish to look up.  And, of course, mining and refining to get the materials.

If/when you decide to subscribe, you can gain access to the market fully and find things to buy and work with as well.

Really the best option has to be ammo production, you wont be efficient with the SP avail to a trial char but it is doable solo in a relatively short time frame.

You don't need, or want, to create prototypes for T1 items.

The material costs of a prototype are meant as a gateway system to introduce new modules and bots through the Kernel research system. Once a T1 or standard Bot is available for purchase or if you get once from a drop, you can directly Reverse Engineering that item with a decoder.

The thing to remember, with ammo, is that you need a full production run's worth of the item to create the CT via the Reverse Engineering process. That means you need 1000 rounds to create a CT.

In any event, purchasing 1000 rounds or even the T1 item off the market place will be less expensive then buying the mats to prototype the item.

For ammo and T1, the protoype is not any better then the standard item.

When you start making tiered items, you MUST create a prototype, and that's really where that function is used.