ISAM 5635

Parthenopi Konstantinou

RAPID APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

Parthenopi Konstantinou ISAM 5635

ABSTRACT
To a!" #an! e$e%op#ent or&ani'ations are a optin& iterati$e e$e%op#ent #etho o%o&ies e#phasi'e (! Rapi App%i)ation De$e%op#ent *RAD+ )!)%es, -n%i.e /ater0a%% e$e%op#ent %i0e )!)%es" /here testin& is one at the en o0 the pro1e)t" iterati$e %i0e )!)%es spe)i0! testin& at #u%tip%e points urin& e$e%op#ent, It is eas! to un erstan the i#portan)e o0 in)%u in& s!ste# per0or#an)e ana%!sis an pre i)ti$e tunin& in the pro)ess, I enti0!in& the a ressin& 0%o/s ear%!" espe)ia%%! per0or#an)e %i#itations" has as a $anta&e the )uts o0 the )ost to 0i2 the# an at the sa#e ti#e #ini#i'es the i#pa)t on the pro1e)t s)he u%e, RAD has (een pro$en to (e a $a%ua(%e so0t/are strate&!, 3o/e$er" it is not /ithout pit0a%%s an ris.s, RAD in)orporates so#e e0e)ts that /e nee to a 1ust, Resear)h an )apita%i'ation shou% (e in$este in or er to #ini#i'e the# an use the# as o0 )o#panies4 a $anta&e,

*Sour)e 0ro# ///,)re ata,)o#+

ISAM 5635

Parthenopi Konstantinou

INTRODUCTION
Rapi App%i)ation De$e%op#ent *RAD+ is a ne/" hi&h%! intera)ti$e s!ste#s e$e%op#ent approa)h that e#er&e in the 5667s, RAD is a )on)ept that pro u)ts )an (e e$e%ope 0aster an o0 hi&her 8ua%it!, In a ition RAD atte#pts to a ress (oth /ea.nesses o0 the stru)ture e$e%op#ent #etho o%o&ies" /hi)h are9 %on& e$e%op#ent ti#es an the es)ription, RAD

i00i)u%t! in un erstan in& a s!ste# 0ro# a paper:(ase

#etho o%o&ies a 1ust the S!ste#s De$e%op#ent Li0e C!)%e *SDLC+ phases to &et so#e part o0 the s!ste# e$e%ope 8ui).%! an into the han s o0 the users, ;hat %ies (eneath this approa)h is to &et the users to (etter un erstan the s!ste# throu&h intera)ti$e an si#u%taneous re$isions" /hi)h (rin& the s!ste# )%oser to /hat is nee e ,

How to use RAD

Most RAD #etho o%o&ies re)o##en that ana%!sts use spe)ia% te)hni8ues an )o#puter too%s to spee up the ana%!sis" esi&n" an i#p%e#entation phases" su)h as CASE *Co#puter:Ai e So0t/are En&ineerin&+ too%s" <AD *<oint App%i)ation Desi&n+ sessions" 0ourth:&eneration=$isua% pro&ra##in& %an&ua&es that si#p%i0! the spee up pro&ra##in& *e,&," Visua% Basi)+" an )o e &enerators that auto#ati)a%%! pro u)e pro&ra#s 0ro# esi&n spe)i0i)ations, It is the )o#(ination o0 the )han&e SDLC phases an the use o0 theses too%s an te)hni8ues that i#pro$es the spee an 8ua%it! o0 s!ste#s e$e%op#ent, There are pro)ess:)entere " ata:)entere " an o(1e)t:oriente #etho o%o&ies that 0o%%o/ the (asi) approa)hes RAD, T/o )o##on #etho o%o&ies o0 RAD are phased development an prototyping >5?,

ISAM 5635

Parthenopi Konstantinou

Phased De e!op"ent9 The Phase e$e%op#ent #etho o%o&! (rea.s the o$era%% s!ste# into a series o0 $ersions

that are e$e%ope se8uentia%%!, The ana%!sis phase i enti0ies the o$era%% s!ste# )on)ept" an the pro1e)t tea#" users" an s!ste# sponsors" then )ate&ori'e the re8uire#ent into a series o0 $ersion, The #ost i#portant an 0un a#enta% re8uire#ents are (un %e into the 0irst $ersion o0 the s!ste#, The ana%!sis phase then %ea s into esi&n an i#p%e#entation" (ut on%! /ith a set o0 re8uire#ents i enti0ies 0or $ersion 5, On)e $ersion 5 is i#p%e#ente " /or. (e&ins /on $ersion @ an 0o%%o/s the steps" an so on, In the sa#e /a!" an! a itiona% re8uire#ents i enti0ie urin& testin& o0 the o% er $ersion

are i#p%e#ente in the ne2t $ersion, ;ith this /a! the s!ste# &ets in the han s o0 the users $er! 8ui).%! >A?,

Protot#pin$% The protot!pin& #etho o%o&! per0or#s the ana%!sis" esi&n" an i#p%e#entation phases )on)urrent%!" an a%% three phases are per0or#e repeate %! in a )!)%e unti% the s!ste# is )o#p%ete , In this )ase" the users o0 the s!ste# are an a)ti$e parti)ipant o0 the s!ste# e$e%op#ent pro)ess, The protot!pe is han e to the users 0or testin& an to pro$i e )o##entsB /hi)h are the reana%!'e an re esi&ne " an a se)on protot!pe is e$e%ope , The pro)ess )ontinues in a )!)%e unti% the users an 0ina% s!ste# >A?, e$e%opers a&ree to a

ISAM 5635

Parthenopi Konstantinou

Purpose and O&'e(ti es

High Speed, High Quality, and Lower Cost Those are pri#ar! )on)epts in the RAD en$iron#ent, S!ste#s e$e%ope usin& the RAD e$e%op#ent path #eet the nee s o0 their users e00e)ti$e%! an ha$e %o/ #aintenan)e )ost, The 8ua%it! o0 a s!ste# is e0ine as the e&ree to /hi)h the s!ste# #eets (usiness re8uire#ents *or user re8uire#ents+ at the ti#e it (e&ins operation, This is 0un a#enta%%! i00erent 0ro# the #ore usua% e0inition o0 8ua%it! as the e&ree to /hi)h a s!ste# )on0or#s to /ritten spe)i0i)ations, Rapi e$e%op#ent" hi&h 8ua%it! an %o/er )osts &o

han :in:han i0 an appropriate e$e%op#ent #etho o%o&! is use >@?

)a(tors *or Rapid De e!op"ent

Cast e$e%op#ent oes not #ean a D8ui). an irt!E pro)ess, There shou% (e no

)o#pro#ise (et/een spee o0 e$e%op#ent an 8ua%it!, Se$era% 0a)tors )ontri(ute to the su))ess o0 rapi e$e%op#ent (! i#pro$in& (oth the 8ua%it! o0 e%i$ere s!ste# an the e$e%op#ent in)%u e9

spee o0 e%i$er!, I#portant 0a)tors 0or rapi

Fatherin& re8uire#ents usin& /or.shops or 0o)us &roups, Protot!pin& an ear%!" reiterati$e user testin& o0 esi&ns, The re:use o0 so0t/are )o#ponents9 -se o0 a CASE repositor! to 0a)i%itate the re:use o0 pro$en te#p%ates" )o#ponents" an s!ste#s,

The use o0 inte&rate CASE too%set to en0or)e te)hni)a% inte&rit! in #o e%in& an esi&nin& the s!ste#" as /e%% as" to &enerate (u&:0ree )o e 0ro# 0u%%! $a%i ate esi&n,

ISAM 5635

Parthenopi Konstantinou

A ri&i %! pa)e s)he u%e that e0ers esi&n i#pro$e#ents to the ne2t pro u)t $ersion,

Intensi$e in$o%$e#ent o0 the en user in the esi&n o0 the s!ste#s,

The ear%!" e00e)ti$e an )ontinue in$o%$e#ent o0 users in the e$e%op#ent pro)ess is )riti)a% to the su))ess o0 RAD, The in$o%$e#ent o0 users is an i#portant 0a)tor in the ear%! ete)tion o0 errors" an in &enera%" the ear%ier a e0e)t is 0oun " the %ess ti#e an e2pense re8uire to )orre)t it, The re%ati$e )ost o0 )orre)tin& errors $aries o$er the e$e%op#ent %i0e )!)%e, It is #u)h %ess e2pensi$e to )at)h the error ear%! than at the %ast sta&e o0 the s!ste# e$e%op#ent >5?,

Sta$es o* RAD
The Rapi App%i)ation De$e%op#ent path #a! (e a apte to i00erent CASE too%s an e$e%op#ent en$iron#ents, This se)tion (rie0%! es)ri(es the 0our sta&es o0 RAD, Re+uire"ents P!annin$ The Re8uire#ents P%annin& sta&e )onsists o0 a re$ie/ o0 the areas i##e iate%! asso)iate /ith the propose s!ste#, This re$ie/ pro u)es a (roa e0inition o0 the

s!ste# re8uire#ents in ter#s o0 the 0un)tions the s!ste# /i%% support, The e%i$era(%es 0ro# the Re8uire#ents P%annin& sta&e in)%u e an out%ine s!ste# area #o e% *entit! an pro)ess #o e%s+ o0 the area un er stu !" a e0inition o0 the s!ste#Hs s)ope" an a )ost 1usti0i)ation 0or the ne/ s!ste# >A?,

ISAM 5635 User Desi$n

Parthenopi Konstantinou

The -ser Desi&n sta&e )onsists o0 a etai%e ana%!sis o0 the (usiness a)ti$ities re%ate to the propose s!ste#, Ke! users" #eetin& in /or.shops" e)o#pose (usiness 0un)tions an e0ine entit! t!pes asso)iate /ith the s!ste#, The! )o#p%ete the ana%!sis (! ata, Co%%o/in&

)reatin& a)tion ia&ra#s e0inin& the intera)tions (et/een pro)esses an

the ana%!sis" the esi&n o0 the s!ste# is out%ine , S!ste# pro)e ures are esi&ne " an pre%i#inar! %a!outs o0 s)reens are e$e%ope , Protot!pes o0 )riti)a% pro)e ures are (ui%t an re$ie/e , A p%an 0or i#p%e#entin& the s!ste# is prepare >A?,

Constru(tion In the Constru)tion sta&e" a s#a%% tea# o0 e$e%opers" /or.in& ire)t%! /ith users" 0ina%i'es the esi&n an (ui% s the s!ste#, The so0t/are )onstru)tion pro)ess )onsists o0 a series o0 I esi&n:an :(ui% I steps in /hi)h the users ha$e the opportunit! to 0ine:tune the re8uire#ents an re$ie/ the resu%tin& so0t/are i#p%e#entation, This sta&e a%so in)%u es preparin& 0or the )uto$er to pro u)tion, In a ition to the teste so0t/are" Constru)tion sta&e e%i$era(%es in)%u e o)u#entation an instru)tions ne)essar! to operate the ne/ app%i)ation" an routines an pro)e ures nee e to put the s!ste# into operation >A?, I"p!e"entation The i#p%e#entation sta&e in$o%$es i#p%e#entin& the ne/ s!ste# an #ana&in& the )han&e 0ro# the o% s!ste# en$iron#ent to the ne/ one, This #a! in)%u e i#p%e#entin& (ri &es (et/een e2istin& an ne/ s!ste#s" )on$ertin& ata" an trainin& users, -ser a))eptan)e is the en point o0 the i#p%e#entation sta&e >A?,

ISAM 5635

Parthenopi Konstantinou

, a!uation o* RAD
RAD has pro$en to (e $a%ua(%e so0t/are strate&!, 3o/e$er" it is not /ithout pit0a%%s an ris.s, It has $arious a $anta&es an Ad anta$es o* RAD Cirst o0 a%% RAD is esi&ne to he%p e%i$er the s!ste#s 0aster /ith #ini#i'e )ost" an insure 8ua%it!, De%i$era(%es so#eti#es are easier to port (e)ause the! #a.e &reater use o0 hi&h:%e$e% a(stra)tion" s)ripts an inter#e iate )o e, A%so" the e$e%op#ent is )on u)te at a hi&her %e$e% o0 a(stra)tion (e)ause RAD too%s operate at that %e$e%, RAD o00ers its users ear%! $isi(i%it! (e)ause o0 protot!pin&" &reater 0%e2i(i%it! (e)ause e$e%opers )an re esi&n at /i%%" an re u)tion o0 the #anua% )o in& (e)ause o0 /i'ar s" )o e &enerators" )o e reuse, In a ition" RAD ten s to shorten the e$e%op#ent )!)%es an #ini#i'e e0e)ts (e)ause CASE too%s #a! &enerate #u)h o0 the )o e or other pre: esi&ne app%i)ations, isa $anta&es that /e nee to a ress,

*Sour)e 0ro# Arti)%e9 Taking the Risk out of Rapid Application Development+

ISAM 5635

Parthenopi Konstantinou

Disad anta$es o* RAD On the other han " RAD #i&ht )ause so#e a e8uate pro(%e#s, The )ost o0 the inte&rate too%set an har /are )o$ers a su00i)ient a#ount o0 #one!, It #i&ht (e har er to &au&e pro&ress (e)ause there are no )%assi) #i%estones" or )ou% %ess e00i)ient (e)ause )o e isn4t han )ra0te , In a ition" there is the possi(i%it! o0 the %oss o0 s)ienti0i) pre)ision (e)ause no 0or#a% #etho s are use " or #a! a))i enta%%! e#po/er a return to the un)ontro%%e pra)ti)es o0 the ear%! a!s o0 so0t/are e$e%op#ent, A%so there is the an&er the re8uire#ents #a! not )on$er&e (e)ause the interests o0 )usto#ers #a! i$er&e 0ro# one iteration to the ne2t *>3? an >G?+, Dan$er o* Rapid De e!op"ent% The Nature o* the Dan$er Rapi app%i)ation e$e%op#ent is (e)o#in& in)reasin&%! essentia% to (usiness sur$i$a%, There is" ho/e$er" a an&er inherent in rapi e$e%op#ent, Enterprises are o0ten te#pte

to use RAD te)hni8ues to (ui% :stan a%one s!ste#s to so%$e a parti)u%ar pro(%e# iso%ation, Su)h s!ste#s i0 the! #eet users nee s" the! (e)o#e institutiona%i'e , I0 an enterprise (ui% s #an! su)h iso%ate s!ste#s to so%$e parti)u%ar pro(%e#s" the resu%t is a %ar&e" un is)ip%ine #ass o0 app%i)ations that o not /or. to&ether, In pra)ti)e" #ost (usiness app%i)ations are )%ose%! re%ate to other app%i)ations an share ata(ase /ith the#" #a.in& a )o##on in0rastru)ture essentia%, In a ition" as )o#putin& s!ste#s &ro/" the! (e)o#e e$en #ore )o#p%e2" an su)h s!ste#s are i00i)u%t to )han&e un%ess the! ha$e (een )reate /ithin s.i%%0u%%! esi&ne ar)hite)tures that a%%o/ one pie)e to (e

ISAM 5635

Parthenopi Konstantinou

)han&e /ithout )han&in& the other pie)es, 3en)e" the so%ution to an! pro(%e# is to e$e%op a )are0u%%! p%anne set o0 ar)hite)tures, The approa)h that e$e%ops s!ste#s /ithin an ar)hite)tura% en$iron#ent is .no/n as DIn0or#ation En&ineerin&E >6?,

CONC-USION
RAD has (een pro$en to (e a $a%ua(%e so0t/are strate&!, It is not /ithout pit0a%%s an ris.s, It re8uires the ri&ht #i2 o0 #etho o%o&ies" too%s" personne% an #ana&e#ent, Its use epen s upon )o#p%e2it! o0 the o#ain or app%i)ation" the or&ani'ationa% en$iron#ent" the s.i%%s o0 sta00 an #ana&e#ent an the ar)hite)tures an in0rastru)tures a$ai%a(%e, RAD is /orth! o0 )ontinue resear)h an )apita%i'ation,

ISAM 5635

Parthenopi Konstantinou

R,),R,NC,S
5, Arti)%e on %ine 0ro# the ;e( De$e%oper4s <ourna%" ;e( Site On Line at http9==///,/e( e$e%opers1ourna%,)o#=arti)%e=ra ,ht# @, ;e( Site On Line" Creati$e Data (! Ste$e C M)Conne%%" Rapi De$e%op#ent9 Timing Wild Software Schedules at http9==)re ata,)o#=resear)h=ra ,ht#% 3, ;e( Site On Line at http9==)s/e(,)s,e u=#aner= o#ains=RAD=,ht# G, Ne/s%etter on %ine" ;e( Site On Line at http9==///,pra&#ati)s/,)o#=Pra&#ati)=Ne/s%etters=ne/s%etterK@77@K7J,ht# 5, So0t/are Te)h Ne/s ;e( Site On Line B! Morton A, 3irs)h(er&:-,S Ar#! Resear)h La(orator! at http9==///, a)s, ti),#i%=a/areness=ne/s%etters=te)hne/s@:5=ra ,ht#% 6, Co#pu/are Corporation" Arti)%e on %ine9 Taking the risk out of rapid application development at http9==///,)o#pu/are,)o# A, A%an Dennis an Bar(ara 3a%e! ;i2o#" S!ste#s Ana%!sis an Desi&n" Ch,5 *p,J:5G+

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ISAM 5635

Parthenopi Konstantinou

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