Rapid Application Development or RAD means an adaptive software development model based on prototyping and quick feedback with less emphasis on specific planning. In general, the RAD approach prioritizes development and building a prototype, rather than planning. It saves time, delivers a top-quality product, and also the client can provide feedback. So, the final product is up to their standards. Ever want to learn about the Rapid Application Development Model? Then this article is right for you.
Rapid Application Development
That’s one of the major reasons why rapid application development (RAD) was conceived. It was designed to assist developers in fast-track the product design and planning stage to deliver products rapidly.
This development method, combined with user feedback, allows developers to position all their resources on building and testing features. All of these to make the final product works as expected.
Advantages of Rapid Application Development
There are many advantages to using the RAD model in software development:
- It enables teams to carry out numerous changes throughout the development cycle, instead of sticking to large laid-out plans.
- Allows for more feedback and testing opportunities, resulting in a reduced risk of errors and greater client satisfaction.
- It’s a more productive use of time, as fewer collaborative teams are required to perform a similar amount of labor as traditional teams.
- It can optimize costs for the developer and also the client, as teams can meet evolving requirements efficiently.
- Lastly, it consists of many independent components, so integration isn’t a difficulty. And also, the development of many elements can happen simultaneously.
RAD
The RAD model of software development is nothing new – actually, it’s over 30 years old. As its name implies, the RAD model essentially prioritizes “rapid development” or speed over planning.
In other words, fewer teams of specialized developers have a more in-depth line of communication with the customer. This setup allows changes to happen quickly. And this is great for rapidly changing product requirements or identifying errors.
How Does Rapid Application Development Work?
There are four basic steps that structure the RAD process. They contain listing your requirements, generating the prototype, managing the feedback, and building the product, with the last two steps happening in parallel:
List your requirements
Any project requires planning, but in RAD, this step is quick and easy. There’s no need to gather stakeholders together to prioritize requirements. Plans are broad, and project requirements are generic enough to supply general direction at each stage of the project cycle.
Get the prototype out
Here, the development process begins, which follows the overall scope of the project. Developers collaborate together to make many prototypes. And they are then presented to the client for feedback and for further direction.
Manage the feedback
As development teams gather feedback about their prototypes, they get a far better picture of what the client wants. Since feedback usually concerns everything from functionality to design, development happens at a faster pace with fewer wasted resources.
Build the product
At this stage, final development commences. But teams can still gather feedback from the client to perfect the details regarding usability, maintenance, and other technical aspects.
Select the right Rapid Application Development Platform
As a development methodology, RAD has long been preferred by forward-thinking developers to launch robust, flexible, and future-proof products in record time.
Many use RAD platforms to streamline and accelerate the product development of their projects. When the time involves selecting your RAD platform, make the choice carefully. A sturdy ecosystem, open-source structure, low-code elements, and integration features are all worth considering.
What is the main goal of rapid application development?
Rapid Application Development (RAD) is a style of agile development that aims to provide high-quality outcomes quickly. Contrary to the Waterfall methodology, RAD emphasizes procedures over design. RAD repurposes existing code, models, and tried-and-true procedures to build new software prototypes.
What projects use RAD?
What Are Some RAD Examples?
- Purchase Order. Collecting data for purchase orders and approving them sounds like a very simple process, but readymade options often complicate it.
- Employee Resignation. Another RAD example is handling employee resignation.
- Travel Request. The last RAD example we’ll look at is Travel Request.
What companies use RAD methodology?
- KFC food delivery App.
- IKEA- ERP app development.
- Adidas Ecommerce App.
- Hukoomi- Web app Development.
- Domino’s Mobile App.
- JobGet Mobile App.
- Pizza Hut Mobile App.
- Bajaj finserv Fintech App.
Is RAD better than SDLC?
Apart from a shorter time-to-market, one of the most significant advantages of RAD is client involvement. RAD emphasizes incremental and iterative delivery of functioning models to the client instead of following a rigid process model like the traditional SDLC.
Is RAD a framework?
RAD frameworks are a set of libraries, functions, classes, and reusable objects based on a rapid application development methodology. RAD frameworks help save time, as well as organize and streamline development. Instead of having to develop libraries and functions from scratch, frameworks accelerate the process.
What type of projects is RAD best suited for?
Rapid application development (RAD) is an agile project management strategy popular in software development. The key benefit of a RAD approach is fast project turnaround, making it an attractive choice for developers working in a fast-paced environment like software development.
Is RAD suitable for small projects?
RAD isn’t designed to work well with smaller projects. It requires using automated code-generated tools, which makes it suitable for projects with minimal development time. Features are often eliminated to fit time limits. Some functions developed on the later versions to fast up the first release of the product