Rapid software development process

The prototypes are shown to the client for their feedback when they are completed. The client provides their opinion on the prototype. The developers then take this feedback and make the necessary changes to the prototype.

The cycle is repeated until the client accepts the prototype. While there are numerous steps involved in the Rapid Application Development model, you can broadly group them together into four phases. Every project, irrespective of the framework, has to start with the gathering of requirements. The clients present what they expect the software to do and the features that should be there.

While the requirements gathering phase is common across all software development models, the time spent on the phase differs. Since RAD treats the software as a pliable object, the requirement gathering phase needs to be detailed. It is very much likely that the requirements are going to change along the way. At the end of this phase, all the stakeholders must reach a consensus on the requirements.

The next step is where the development starts. Here, the developers begin creating the prototypes. These are then sent to the client for testing and feedback. The developers take the feedback and make the necessary changes. The repeated prototyping and testing will smooth out any bugs in the systems and gaps in understanding the requirements.

The development moves to the next stage only when the client approves of the prototypes. After the second phase, you have parts of the product but not a complete product.

The pieces are put together to create a complete working model in the construction phase. The client provides feedback and inputs in this phase, too, if needed. In this stage, you construct and verify the system, test it, and prepare for the final transition. The cutover phase is the final phase in RAD.

The working product is ready for deployment. In the cutover stage, you need to work out data conversion and the change from the existing system to the new system, test the product, and train its users. Before adopting any model for software development, you also need to know its advantages and disadvantages. No system is perfect, but the benefits may outweigh the drawbacks in some cases.

Here are the Rapid Application Development advantages and disadvantages that you must consider to make an informed decision. Speed is the primary motto of Rapid Application Development. With rapid prototyping and continuous testing, the software development cycle takes a much shorter time than traditional models. The time and resources invested in the project are not wasted in RAD, making it a cost-effective model. Development of each module involves the various basic steps as in waterfall model i.

Another striking feature of this model is a short time span i. Skip to content. Change Language. Related Articles. Introduction of Software Engineering. Software Requirements. Software Testing and Debugging. Table of Contents. Software Categories. Who We Are.

For Vendors Write a Review. Explore rapid application development for faster software delivery and continuous iterations. What is rapid application development, and what are its benefits? Some of the key benefits and advantages of RAD are: Enhanced flexibility and adaptability as developers can make adjustments quickly during the development process. Quick iterations that reduce development time and speed up delivery.

Encouragement of code reuse, which means less manual coding, less room for errors, and shorter testing times. Increased customer satisfaction due to high-level collaboration and coordination between stakeholders developers, clients, and end users. Better risk management as stakeholders can discuss and address code vulnerabilities while keeping development processes going.

Fewer surprises as, unlike the Waterfall method, RAD includes integrations early on in the software development process. Define and finalize project requirements During this step, stakeholders sit together to define and finalize project requirements such as project goals, expectations, timelines, and budget. Step 2: Begin building prototypes As soon as you finish scoping the project, you can begin development.

Step 3: Gather user feedback In this step, prototypes and beta systems are converted into working models. Step 4: Test, test, test This step requires you to test your software product and ensure that all its moving parts work together as per client expectations. Step 5: Present your system This is the final step before the finished product goes to launch.

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