--- description: Explore why rapid application development is the solution to produce swift software delivery that benefits from continuous iterations. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/capterra/og_logo-e5a8c001ed0bd1bb922639230fcea71a.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress title: What is rapid application development? --- # Rapid application development: What it is and how to use it Canonical: https://www.capterra.co.uk/blog/2548/rapid-application-development Published on 28/02/2022 | Written by Eduardo Garcia. ![Rapid application development: What it is and how to use it](https://images.ctfassets.net/63bmaubptoky/5LGJh_yO24PHijcPOTcb6QPKeSZOU4TgVO853IyxXn8/96c84a2d901438749de8eb4ef44dcc71/What-Is-Rapid-Application-Development-UK-Capterra-Header.png) > Software projects can be pliable processes that require constant changes during the development phase. Explore why rapid application development helps foster a software development environment that benefits from continuous iterations. ----- ## Article Content Software projects can be pliable processes that require constant changes during the development phase. Explore why rapid application development helps foster a software development environment that benefits from continuous iterations.In this articleWhat is rapid application development (RAD)?What are the benefits of RAD?The 5 stages of rapid application developmentIs RAD the right model for your team?You are ready for RAD. What next?When seeking a faster method of application development, flexibility is just as important as speed. Software development is an agile process that usually allows quick changes, remoulding, and shifting rather than a strictly planned, rigid procedure. This is a good thing because, without this malleability, every suggested change would require starting from scratch or taking a step back in the development process.Project management teams have not always valued the importance of agility in the past. Instead, managers focused on stringent planning and rigorous or sequential processes that gave little room for flexibility, such as the process-driven waterfall methodology. Today, many project managers and software developers embrace agile management, as they increasingly work on projects that are prone to shifting objectives, new targets, and evolving processes.Rapid application development (RAD) is a common methodology, where software developers seek agile methods of application development to stay ahead in an ever-growing and increasingly demanding market.What is rapid application development (RAD)?Rapid application development (RAD) is an agile software development methodology that prioritises rapid prototype releases, focusing more on user feedback and ongoing software projects instead of on strict plans.In application development, the initial process of designing the best experience for target users by building concepts and gestures that need to be tested is known as prototyping. Rapid prototyping is a repetitive process during the design phase of an app or website. The objective of this approach is to swiftly improve the design and functionality of the application by regularly updating the prototypes in multiple short cycles. This allows developers to save time and money by addressing design issues before the product is developed and allowing the product to be easily tailored to end-users. Conceived by the British IT consultant James Martin in 1991, RAD has evolved to become a precursor to agile. Unlike the waterfall methodology, RAD breaks away from strict planning to incorporate free-flowing development changes that are responsive to user input.What are the benefits of RAD?Some of the main benefits of rapid application development are:More flexibility and adaptability for developers during the development process.Increased customer satisfaction due to optimised collaboration and coordination between teams, developers, clients, and end-users.Higher efficiency as projects can be broken down into smaller, more manageable tasks that managers can assign according to team specialities and experience.Reduced development time thanks to swift iterations and code reusability.Improved risk management as developers and stakeholders can address code vulnerabilities on the go without interrupting the development process.Cost savings as developers can weed out unneeded, complex features by building exactly what their customer wants.The 5 stages of rapid application developmentStep 1: Define, plan, and finalise project requirementsRAD methodologies begin with stakeholders broadly defining the project requirements. These general requirements allow projects to be flexible over time. The planning stage is brief, focusing more on prototype iterations while addressing the goals, timelines, budgets, expectations, and potential issues during the project.During this phase, communication is key to ensure that everyone has collaborated on and approved the plan. However, stakeholders must know that part of the rapid application development methodology requires being prepared for change at any stage of the development cycle.Step 2: Start to build your prototypesPrototyping and rapid application development go hand-in-hand. Once the broad requirements for the project have been scoped and approved, designers and developers collaborate in building and improving working prototypes during every stage of the process. This allows developers to test and tweak their models until they reach the desired design.Step 3: Get feedback from usersOnce the prototypes and beta systems are designed, they are converted into working models. These are then presented to clients or team members for feedback. When the end-users test the prototype, they provide feedback on what worked and what didn’t meet their expectations. Subsequently, the developers and designers continue to prototype until they create the best possible product.Step 4: Test your product to perfectionWith every piece of feedback delivered, developers must test their software products to make sure that every element works proficiently and meets the customer’s demands.Step 5: Present your finalised systemThe final phase of the RAD methodology is launching the finished product. This phase includes testing, data conversions, integrations, maintenance tasks, and user training before ultimately handing over the final product.Is RAD the right model for your team? How do you know if RAD is right for your team and whether you are ready to deploy its model? RAD is a suitable method for fast-paced environments with the right teams and tools. Here are some tips to help you decide:Ask yourself whether you need to develop a software product within a two- to three-month timeframe.Evaluate the experience of your developers, designers, and coders to ensure that they can carry out your project in a specific timeline. Assess whether you have the right tools and technology to implement RAD. Apart from application development software, RAD requires thorough planning of each development phase. Managers may need to use agile project management tools or productivity software to plan and design workflows to assist them in the process. Liaise with your client to make sure that they are willing to adopt RAD as this will require them to be available for collaboration and feedback throughout the software development phaseYou are ready for RAD. What next?If you’ve decided the RAD approach is the right one for you, then there are several factors that you have most likely agreed to. Firstly, it’s important that everyone within your organisation buy into the methodology. Employees must be proactive and have an all-hands approach to the development project. Even if they understand the benefits of the RAD methodology, employees must be willing to deliver feedback if they have any questions or concerns.Additionally, stakeholders also need to be invested in the cause and respect predetermined timelines and processes. They also need to help choose the right application development software and invest in tools that adhere to the project requirements and allocated budget.With this in mind, the next step is to select the best tools for your project, depending on the size of your business, your budget, and all the necessary requirements to help you apply this methodology and reap the benefits. Looking for application development software? Check out our catalogue. ## About the author ### Eduardo Garcia Eduardo is a Content Analyst for the UK. Providing research and digital tech tips for SMBs. MA in Journalism and in Diplomatic Studies. 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