Rapid Application Development
Rapid application refers to a type of software development that is favorable to minimal planning and maximum or efficient prototyping. The writing of the software has a link with the planning of the software to be developed. The software is developed using a system known as RAD or the Rapid Application Development. If the planning is not extensive the software can be developed faster, and you are able to make minor changes if needed.
The term Rapid Application Development (RAD) refers to a software development methodology with quicker speed that involves high end technologies like software prototyping and iterative development. RAD involves the merger of technologies like prototype techniques, used to accelerate development of the system to Information Engineering.
The user’s requirement is defined by the structured prototyping and structured techniques, as part of the RAD program. The same structure is used to design the final system. The business process models and the data models are made in the initial stage using structured techniques. Prototyping is used to verify the requirements which ultimately are used in data and business process models. You may need to compromise on the functionality or performance in order to facilitate faster development and fine-tuning application maintenance.
The process of Rapid Application Development was coined by James Martin in 1991 in order to describe a software development process. The construction of prototypes and the interactive development is involved in Martin’s methodology. The term (RAD) is used widely in today’s modern world, used for software frameworks and application frameworks.
Rapid Application Development emerged in the wake of two critical problems, first the previous development process including Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method and other Waterfall models that were used in 1970s and 1980s was too sluggish to meet the current requirements as, the requirements were changed before the system completes that resulted in inadequate and unusable systems, and second there was an assumption that a methodical requirements analysis phase alone would identify all the critical requirements, which proved false later. Actually several evidence proved this fact that it happens very rarely and at all levels despite being highly experienced professionals.
There is a need for fast iterations through phases of Software Development Life cycle, and this was the reason why the world began to shift to an open session less server like Web 2.0. The interest in the silver Bullet RAD methodology has ignited once again in the mind’s of many developers.
Many RAD reactionaries acknowledge the fact that there is no single methodology developed which can bring a significant difference to the development of methodology. The Rapid Application Development provides developers with the opportunity to arrange for a good framework with improved code quality and product development. However the issues of successful implementation are often dependant on software release cycle and corporate cultures. It is interesting to know that the leaders in technology such as Microsoft and IBM still use the old waterfall methodologies.
The Rapid Application Development being an incremental and iterative process may lead to the succession of prototype which does not result in a reliable product application. Robust tools, when put to proper use may negate the possibility of this problem from occurring.