Guide

What is the Sense of Rapid Application Development?

Updated On November 15, 2021 | by Louise Simon

If you want to develop an app faster, avoid the Waterfall process, which compels you to follow a strict timeline and doesn’t allow for continuous iteration. As a result, every time the client suggests changes, you’ll have to repeat the development process from the beginning.

Instead, evaluate James Martin’s rapid application development (RAD) technique, which he pioneered in 1991. The RAD technique is still popular among those looking for agile ways of application development to keep up with changing company and customer needs, even though it has been around for a long time.

Also Read: Best Personal Finance Apps

What is RAD (Rapid Application Development)?

Rapid Application Development (RAD) is a development method that emphasizes rapid prototyping and feedback over lengthy development and testing cycles. Rapid application development software allows developers to make several iterations and modifications to the software without restarting the development process from the beginning each time.

RAD is a development model that arose from developers’ understanding that the old waterfall development model was ineffective. The waterfall model has a crucial drawback in that it’s tough to update the software’s core operations and features once it’s in the testing phase. As a result, you’re left with software that may or may not meet your changing needs.

Stages in the Rapid Application Development

Although RAD has evolved throughout time, these four fundamental steps have remained consistent.

1. Specify the requirements.
2. Start making prototypes.
3. Obtain feedback
4. Complete the product and implementation

1. Specify the Requirements.

Stakeholders, clients, software developers, and teams engage in identifying the project’s needs, as well as strategies for dealing with possible challenges that may arise throughout development. Objectives, expectations, deadlines, and a budget are all requirements. The client gives a product vision, and research is undertaken in partnership with other stakeholders to complete requirements with each stakeholder’s permission.

2. Start Making Prototypes.

This is when the real work begins. Rather than adhering to a specific set of criteria, developers produce prototypes with various features and functions as quickly as possible. The clients are then given the prototypes and asked to determine what they like and don’t like.

Most of the time, these prototypes are rushed to work to demonstrate specific characteristics rather than being appropriately polished. This is usual, and the final product is only developed if the client and developer have reached an agreement on the final product.

3. Obtain Feedback

Feedback on what’s good, what’s not, what works, and what doesn’t is shared throughout this stage. Not only is feedback restricted to pure functioning, but it also includes graphics and interfaces.

Prototyping continues as a result of this feedback. These two processes are repeated until a final product is created that meets the needs of both the developers and the client.

4: Complete the Product and Implementation

Developers address the unnecessary costs accumulated during early prototyping in the final phase of rapid application development, improving execution to increase stability and reliability as they prepare the product for launch. Components are moved to a live production environment for full-scale automation testing services to find product flaws.

The implementation phase is when development teams move components into a live production environment, where they may do any necessary full-scale testing or training. Before confidently providing the client a complete product, teams develop extensive documentation and do other essential maintenance chores.

Rapid Application Development’s Benefits and Drawbacks 

With these methods, application development may appear to be a good option for any project. Small teams and quick projects benefit significantly from RAD software. However, it isn’t a cure for all problems. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks of employing rapid application development.

Benefits of RAD

1. Changes in requirements can occur at any time.
2. Customer feedback is encouraged and prioritized
3. With fewer workers, you can be more productive.
4. Significant reduction in development time
5. The reviews are short.

Drawbacks of RAD

1. Cannot operate with large groups 
2. It requires great team collaboration
3. High-skilled developers are needed.
4. When compared to other models, this model is more challenging to manage.
5. Only appropriate for projects with a short development time.

When Should You Apply the RAD Methodology?

• When a system must be built in a short amount of time (2-3 months)
• When the conditions are known,
• When the user is involved throughout the entire life cycle
• When there is a less technical hazard
• When a system that can be modularized in 2-3 months is required.
• When a budget allows for both the hiring of designers and the purchase of automated code generating tools.

How Creatio can help you accelerate your development

Creatio is a no-code platform that allows anyone to create an automated process in minutes rather than days or weeks. A single individual can utilize Creatio to work on an application’s development. This is rapid application development taken to a different level applications as quickly as possible that are ready for usage by the entire organization right away.

Creatio is created with visual interface tools to quickly and easily develop models, pre-built modules, so you don’t have to do the significant work, and drag-and-drop code for people who don’t have the necessary coding skills. Creatio was created to provide businesses with solutions that make their lives easier.