Rapid Application Development (RAD)

Rapid Application Development (RAD) is a software development methodology that emphasises fast and iterative development

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

The process repeats, spiralling through these stages, with each spiral loop representing a development phase until the final product is ready

Rapid Application Development (RAD) Model of Software Development

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

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

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

CS Notes