With rapid growth and teams starting to expand, businesses often see the need to improve and speed up software development processes. At some point, you need a solution that is cost-efficient, agile in nature, and low-to-no code because traditional development methodologies don’t cut it any longer. This is when rapid application development comes in. It focuses on developing rapidly through frequent iterations and continuous feedback. 

How to implement it properly? What are the advantages of such a methodology? Let’s find out!

What is rapid application development?

Rapid application development is a methodology that focuses on the ongoing development process and user feedback instead of following a strict plan. It emphasizes rapid prototyping over costly planning. 

The idea of RAD was initiated in the 1980s when two developers – Barry Boehm and James Martin – recognized that software wasn’t a raw resource but rather something volatile and prone to change depending on numerous factors. They used software’s inherent pliability and created the RAD model that turned out to be a precursor to agile project management. 

Rapid application development provides a super flexible and adaptable process for how you build software solutions. It is based on flexibility and the ability to adapt to new knowledge instead of requiring a rigid structure with specific requirements. For example, building basic prototypes and incorporating users in the design process are the most important steps in the RAD approach. The user is involved in the entire process rather than only at the beginning and end. Therefore, you can build a software product that more closely addresses the user’s needs.

Examples of rapid application development

There are many types of applications you can build quickly using rapid application development. Rapid application development is popular in banking and financial services, for example. It works great for moving into the digital and mobile space by offering products that are fully tested and evaluated in the quickest way possible. 

The RAD methodology is also very evident and widespread in the automobile industry because it helps eliminate many design issues and flaws at the earliest stage of development. When it comes to real-life examples of software you can build with the RAD approach, here are some popular ones:

• ·Purchase orders. RAD enables developers to build a readymade option. A simple application can collect data for purchase orders and approve them automatically. You can decide what fields to show at what steps and quickly build a prototype of a working form and workflow.
• Employee support. Rapid application development can be a huge help for HR teams to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks. By developing custom applications, HR teams can streamline processes such as employee onboarding, leave management, performance evaluations, and data entry. Automation reduces manual errors, improves data accuracy,
• Travel requests. A simple app can help organizations keep tight control over business travel. Such an app could validate key data to make sure everything is correct before seeking a supervisor’s approval.

Four phases of rapid application development

No matter how you want to proceed with RAD, the underlying phases remain the same. There are four steps in the rapid application development cycle.

Define requirements

The rapid application development process starts with a planning phase - defining a loose set of requirements. These requirements may, of course, be changed at any point in the cycle – this is why they are “loose”. This stage is brief but critical to the ultimate success of the project. All stakeholders should communicate to determine the requirements and strategies for tackling potential issues that may arise during development. By requirements, we mean goals, expectations, timelines, and budgets. You should make sure every stakeholder is on the same page early in the development cycle. This will help you avoid costly mistakes and miscommunication.

Prototype

During this phase, developers build something that they can demonstrate to the client. The prototype may cut corners to reach a working state, and this is perfectly acceptable. The goal is to rapidly build a working design to validate whether the client’s needs are being met. The prototype phase can be repeated whenever needed, as the project evolves. This stage guarantees that the team evaluates the feasibility of complex components.

Code and gather feedback

This stage is where application coding, system testing, and integration occurs. Developers convert a prototype into a final working model. They use low-code or rapid application development tools to progress the product quickly. Then, it’s time to present the developers’ work to the client or end users and collect feedback. During this phase, the client can easily change their mind. They may also discover something that seems right on paper but makes no sense in practice. In such cases, developers should return to the prototype phase. The goal is to collect feedback on the interface and functionality to improve all aspects of the product.

Finalize/implement product

This stage is where developers optimize implementation to improve stability and maintainability. They address the technical debt that was accrued during prototyping. Product components are moved to a live production environment and bugs are identified during full-scale testing. Finally, teams prepare thorough documentation and complete other maintenance tasks to make sure the client will receive a complete product.

Rapid application development advantages and disadvantages

As with everything, the rapid application development approach has advantages and disadvantages. When it comes to pros, this is what you can count on when choosing this approach:

• User-centric. When end users are involved in building the product in the prototype stage, the resulting software will likely be more relevant to their needs.
• Speed of development. RAD projects are usually delivered on time and to the client’s satisfaction upon delivery.
• Cost optimization. The developer team builds the exact system the client requires.
• Risk reduction. Every iteration is thoroughly tested. This enables stakeholders to quickly identify and discuss errors, code vulnerabilities or complications, and instantly resolve them without impacting the progress of development.
• Iterative releases and faster time to market. Using low-code options empowers businesses to effectively collaborate and deliver new applications faster. IT teams can reduce the time spent on manual coding. They can quickly build prototypes and working code that may otherwise take much more time.
• Developer satisfaction. The client is there during the entire product development life cycle so the developer team can present their work frequently. They gain confidence that when their product is delivered, their work will be satisfactory and signed off.
• Constant user feedback. The rapid application development methodology is based on relevant feedback from users who interact directly with the app during development and prototyping. Such feedback increases overall efficiency and quality. When you implement RAD, you have a chance to increase customer satisfaction levels through a high level of collaboration and coordination.

And what about the disadvantages?

• You rely on a technically strong team. A professional team is essential to identify and deliver business requirements. The RAD methodology requires modeling skills and relevant experience with rapid adaptation based on component evolution. If there is a need for inter-team communication, the software development life cycle is slower. Also, RAD requires a high level of commitment from all stakeholders as it means a frequent cycle of prototypes.
• Rapid application development may not be good for large-scale projects. This is because the methodology requires modular systems. Each component should be modular – this way, elements can be quickly imported and customized. At the same time, it may be difficult to manage flexibility and volatility within the scope of a larger project.
• There is no scalability. The RAD model assumes very close collaboration between the team and the end users. The bigger the team, the slower the prototyping process. It is harder to communicate frequent scope changes between anyone involved. This is why it is recommended for small and medium-sized projects.

What is the difference between agile and rapid application development?

How does RAD compare to agile software development? These two terms are often confused with each other. Simply speaking, rapid application development is a forebear of agile while agile encompasses far more than the RAD model. Rapid application development is more of a methodology whereas agile is more of a philosophy. Rapid application development is part of the agile family of software development methodologies, together with, for example, scrum and kanban. When you try to compare RAD and agile, you will quickly notice the following differences:

• Rapid application development focuses on building working models in the shortest time possible and agile means breaking down the development cycle into smaller chunks called sprints.
• Unlike RAD, agile involves the client when the product or feature is completely built. It addresses the most difficult features first, while RAD means building the easiest parts first so as to showcase the working model as early as possible.
• Finally, in rapid application development, functionality is prioritized over UI/UX whereas in agile, UI/UX is considered while the product is being built.

Learn more about software development best practices.

When should you use rapid application development methodology?

Wondering if RAD is applicable to your project? For sure, rapid application development methodology doesn’t work well in rigid environments. It may not be applicable if the budget and timeframes have to be fixed in advance nor if the project requires a large team due to its scale. Rapid application development is perfectly suitable for the following types of software projects:

• Small and medium businesses or departmental projects where business owners own the budget and are motivated to get results.
• Website creation. These are typically small projects where it’s easy to involve all stakeholders early.
• Internal business tools. In such cases, RAD helps teams deliver a better experience to end users.

Before you choose RAD for your project, you should ask yourself whether you have access to end user and client feedback. RAD requires buy-in from the end users so they must be able to provide feedback. The clients must agree to providing feedback during the iterative development process. Also, you should make sure your team can iterate quickly. If they cannot, RAD may not be suitable for your project.

How to use RAD effectively

When you decide to use RAD in your software project, you should consider following guidelines that will help you utilize the methodology effectively and efficiently. What are the most important guidelines?

1. Prepare a clear set of expectations. Before the project starts, make sure you know the task and how your developer team could improve each iteration with quick and thorough feedback. Don’t forget to maintain transparency and constant communication.
2. Make sure you research various rapid prototyping software options. This will help you choose the best one for your development needs.
3. Don’t forget to test the prototypes with a diverse group of people of different skill levels. This will guarantee that the collected feedback is objective and addresses all user needs.
4. Set a timeline to support you in setting goals for task completion through the software development process.
5. Automation is the key to better results with this methodology. If you want to build prototypes quickly, reduce errors, and eliminate time-consuming tasks, you should compile a library of templates, plugins, themes, and layouts.
6. Be careful about data losses, cyber-attacks, and other security threats. RAD involves many iterations flowing back and forth between your team and the client so you must make sure the cycle is performed with top-tier data protection.
7. You need a team of competent developers. Last but not least, you really need a wide set of talents. The more each team member can accomplish, the more quickly and efficiently the project proceeds.

Takeaway

It seems that the RAD methodology is here to stay. It brings numerous benefits to software development processes – among others, it offers reduced development time and faster time to market, and clients are encouraged to become more involved. As the pros of RAD outweigh the disadvantages by a clear margin, the technology will for sure become even more widely adopted.