Rapid Application Development

• Rapid Application Development (RAD) 

  • Rapid Application Development (RAD) is a software development methodology that emphasises fast and iterative development 
• Steps in the model: 

  1. Requirement planning: Gather general system requirements, define constraints and assumptions 
  2. User design and prototyping: Collaborate with users to develop prototypes, ensuring alignment with user needs 
  3. Construction or iterative development: Build the system incrementally, with continuous user feedback and adaptation 
  4. Cutover or deployment: Transition the product into the live environment, including user training, support, and documentation 
  5. Maintenance and updates: Continue to adapt and improve the system based on user feedback and needs
• Rapid Application Development

  
• Benefits: 

  • Speed: Enables rapid development and delivery of a high-quality system at a relatively low investment cost 
  • User involvement: Clients are involved throughout the development process, ensuring that the system aligns with user needs and expectations 
  • Flexibility: Allows for changes and adaptations to be made quickly as requirements evolve 
  • Incremental development: Promotes development in small increments, with constant feedback and adaptation 
• Drawbacks: 

  • Dependent on strong team collaboration: Requires skilled and collaborative team members, which can be a challenge to assemble 
  • Potential lack of quality: The focus on speed might lead to skipping rigorous testing or documentation, impacting the quality 
  • Not suitable for small projects: The intense collaboration and iterative approach might be overkill for simple or small-scale projects 
  • Can lead to scope creep: The flexible nature may lead to uncontrolled changes in requirements 
• Suitability: 

  • Rapid Application Development is most suitable for projects where rapid delivery is required and where requirements can be developed and refined on the go