Rapid Application Development

Rapid Application Development (RAD)

When working in software development organisations follow software development systems to ensure the project is a success. The RAD is one such system.

Rapid application development

Rapid Application Development (RAD) is another agile methodology which focuses on getting a product made and quickly.

Stage 1: Analysis and design

This is when the project team will look at the user requirements against what they can adapt or use from other places.
The team will then produce a simple design.

Stage 2: Build, demonstrate and refine

This stage is repeated multiple times where the project team will:
- Develop a product.
- Demonstrate it to the client.
- Refine the product based on the feedback they have received.

Stage 3: Testing and implementing

At the end of each 'build, demonstrate and refine', there is a testing stage.
Once the client is happy, the final stage is implementing the product.

Merits and Drawbacks of RAD

Software development methodologies are suitable in different situations and all of them have positive and negatives.

Merits of RAD

Rapid application development allows a product to be made and put to market extremely quickly.
The project is relevant to the client and the market by the time it is released.
Like other agile methodologies, RAD produces iterative deliverables.
This means improved versions can be released.

Drawbacks of RAD

Like other agile methodologies, RAD requires a heavy time input from the client to feedback and guide the project.
The system focuses on delivering a product that is simply 'good enough', not perfect.

Usage

RAD is best suited to large projects that have short time scales, where it is important to have a timely release to keep market relevance.

1Components of a Computer

1.1Structure & Function of the Processor

1.1.1Structure of the CPU

1.1.2Fetch, Decode, Execute Cycle

1.1.3Factors Affecting CPU Performance

1.1.4CPU Architecture

1.2Types of Processors

1.2.1CISC & RISC

1.2.2Multicore & Parallel Cores

1.3Input, Output & Storage

1.3.1Computer Systems

1.3.2Magnetic Storage

1.3.3Optical Storage

1.3.4Types of Optical Storage

1.3.5Types of Memory

1.3.6Flash Memory

1.3.7Virtual Memory

2Software & Software Development

3Exchanging Data

4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms

4.1Data Types

4.1.1Data Types

4.1.2Arrays & Strings

4.1.3Representing Numbers

4.1.4Binary Arithmetic

4.1.5Hexadecimal

4.1.6Converting Binary Numbers

4.1.7Floating Points in Binary

4.1.8Floating Point Arithmetic

4.1.9Bitwise Manipulation

4.1.10Character Sets

4.2Data Structures

4.2.1Arrays, Linked Lists & Queues

4.2.2Graphs, Hash Tables & Stacks

4.2.3Trees

4.3Boolean Algebra

4.3.1Computational Logic

4.3.2Boolean Logic

4.3.3Karnaugh Maps

4.3.4Boolean Identities

4.3.5Flip Flops & Adder Circuits

5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues

5.1Computing Related Legislation

5.1.1Data Protection Act (1998)

5.1.2Computer Misuse Act (1990)

5.1.3Copyright Designs and Patents Act (1988)

5.1.4Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (2000)

5.2Moral & Ethical Issues

5.2.1Online Activity Tracking

5.2.2Censorship

5.2.3Cultural Issues

5.2.4Environmental Issues

5.2.5Layout, Colour Paradigms & Character Sets

6Elements of Computational Thinking

6.1Thinking Abstractly

6.1.1Abstraction

6.2Thinking Procedurally

6.2.1Decomposition

6.3Thinking Logically

6.3.1Pseudocode & Flow Diagrams

7Problem Solving & Programming

7.1Programming Techniques

7.1.1Programming Fundamentals

7.1.2Modularity

7.2Programming Construction

7.2.1Integrated Development Environments

7.2.2Testing

8Algorithms

8.1Algorithms

8.1.1Interpreting, Correcting & Completing Algorithm

8.1.2Sort Algorithms

8.1.3Insertion & Merge Sort

8.1.4Search Algorithms

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