Rapid Application Development (RAD) enables the Developers to give more prominence to Process than Planning

A perfect substitute for classic Waterfall Development Model, RAD is considered as one of the best agile development techniques. But what is agile development technique? What does process and planning stand for?

Agile development process deals with the generation of solutions through an effective collaboration of teams, while considering a certain set of principles.

Now coming to the second query, the waterfall development model stresses more on planning than the progression phase. On the contrary side RAD gives more importance to the latter aspect than the former one. Sounds confusing?? Well, let me explain in simple words. During the development of an application it would be easier to make corrections while you are in the development process. With each stage of a development phase the requirements may vary, hence completely defining a plan on prior is a waste of time and makes an unsuitable approach.

More about RAD

Developers are sure to have a better leverage over the project or ideas and also it will be less onerous. Pave your path based on the requirements, says RAD. Making changes to pre-built designs can be non-economical as well as time-consuming. RAD makes a perfect choice while dealing with front-end web development process.

In the following segment we will study about the various phases of an RAD model.

• Business Modeling– Under this phase, a product is designed based on the information flow from various business channels. Here, the source, destination and lastly even the information is defined.
• Data Modeling-Information from business modeling are collected as a set of entity or data object. Relations between these entities are formed through identifying the characters of each entity.
• Process Modeling-Each data object which is defined in data modeling phase are altered so as to support business function implementations, which is possible only through information flow.
• Application Generation– Here apart from automated tools, even the fourth generation programming languages are used for the development of software.
• Testing & Turnover– Reuse of components under RAD is definite, so every time the repeating components come for testing the overall time consumed will be minimum. Once the product is developed the testing process is performed under this phase.

RAD model is best suited when risk involved is less and also where there is specificity of time. Due to this approach numerous advantages can be gained under development process.

Benefits under RAD

Firstly, Enhanced user involvement– Rather than what might be the requirement, what is the requirement is emphasized. This is done through a live system which allows a direct communication with the clients for necessary updates.

Practical Approach– Developers will easily understand the possibilities of a complex system as they can analyze each and every component. Privilege of such a kind helps to have an error-free design.

Error & Debugging– Since prototype will be released in each phase, the chances of countering errors is very less
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RAD allows the developers to have a better command in each phase of the development process. But on the downside it is suitable only for small to medium sized projects where the risk involved will be negligible.