Rapid Application Development (RAD) - Characteristics and Phases

Rapid Application Development is a software development methodology that focuses to decrease the time that is needed to design the software through gathering requirements using workshops or focus groups, prototyping and early, reiterative user testing of designs, the re-use of software components, a rigidly paced schedule that defers design improvements to the next product version, less formality in reviews and other team communication.

Characteristics of Rapid Application Development(RAD)

- It involves techniques like iterative development and software prototyping.
- Focused scope where the business objectives are well defined and narrow is well suited for RAD.
- Project data suitable for RAD is the data for the project already exists (completely or in part). The project largely comprises analysis or reporting of the data.
- Decisions can be made by a small number of people who are available and preferably co-located are suitable for RAD.
- A small project team (preferably six people or less) is suitable for RAD.
- In RAD, the technical architecture is defined and clear and the key technology components are in place and tested.

Phases of Rapid Application Development

RAD has a step by step process.
- Planning of Requirements: Developers meet with the project coordinator or manager to create specific objectives from the desired program. Strategies for development and tools for development are also laid out in a specific project.
- RAD Design Workshop: Using the agreed tools and interfaces, developers will start to create different programs based on the business need.
- Implementation Phase: Even though it has gone through hundreds or even thousands of testing and critique, the stage wherein the software is implemented in a larger scale is different hence new suggestions and bugs should be expected from different users.