Rapid Application Development (RAD) Client-Server Project – PROG1210

Md Yusuf Khan
Winter 2024
Week 2 niagaracollegetoronto.ca
 Announcements

Next Assignment:
Next Test: Test 1 -
Assignment 1 (Group
Mid-term - 30% -
Project Proposal) -
Week 7
10% - Week 6

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 Recap
• Let’s meet each other
• Class Structure
• Course Structure
• Course Outcome
• Evaluation Methods
• Teaching and Learning Plan
• Classroom Policies

Questions?
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 Agenda
▪ Introduction to Rapid Application Development (RAD) and Client-Server Projects
▪ Steps of rapid application development
▪ Review of fundamental programming concepts and methodologies.
▪ Agile vs. waterfall vs. RAD development methods
▪ RAD advantages and disadvantages
▪ Applying previously learned concepts to new scenarios using RAD tools.
▪ Systematic debugging strategies.
▪ Effective use of debugging tools within RAD environments.
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Rapid Application Development (RAD)

• Conceived in the 1970s but officially introduced by James Martin in 1991.

• Rapid application development is a methodology focusing on developing applications

rapidly through frequent iterations and approvals with continuous client feedback.

• By prioritizing agile and rapid prototype releases, RAD emphasizes software usability,
user feedback, a quick delivery over long-term planning, and a single initial set of
requirements for building items like custom apps. Enabling faster, nimbler software
development, RAD is becoming increasingly popular.
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Rapid Application Development (RAD)
Key benefits of the RAD methodology are:

• Reduced development time and speed up delivery.

• Enhanced flexibility and adaptability.
• Better risk management.
• Less manual coding and shorter testing times.
• Constant, relevant, and real-time user feedback.
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 Client-Server Projects

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 Client-Server Projects – Instagram case study

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Agile vs. Waterfall vs. RAD
● There are two main methodologies of software development: agile and waterfall.
○ Waterfall, the traditional software development method, focuses on a strict linear process
heavily dependent on customer sign-off. Builds like these can last for months without clients
seeing a final product, causing many problems for updated requirements or additional feedback
that affects the project. It can become difficult to change core functions and features of your
software.
○ Agile is one of the most widely used methodologies, created as a response to the limitations of
traditionally structured management techniques. RAD, a type of agile methodology, offers real-
time results, and works well when you need to quickly deliver a product and update features as
necessary. While speed is emphasized, it’s not based on a specific timeframe.
● What makes the RAD process unique is it’s process-driven, focusing on the testing prototypes and
quick changes to deliver a well-rounded product in a shorter amount of time.
● While RAD and agile share similar steps, RAD focuses on prototypes while agile breaks projects into
9 features to deliver in various sprints over the development cycle.
Steps of Rapid Application Development
RAD has a defined set of four steps needed to complete a project. The goal of RAD is
to reduce planning time and focus on the construction and build of your product. So
even if some steps are repeated, this results in a product that both your team and
stakeholders can be proud of.

1. Define project requirements.

2. Build prototypes.
3. Construction, test, and incorporate feedback.
4. Finalize and implement.

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 1.Define project requirements.
• Here everyone involved—you, developers, software users, and stakeholders
• Define, research, and finalize the scope and requirements of your project, such as
goals, expectations, timelines, and budget.
• Either through a kick-off or creative brief, stakeholders will propose their vision, and
your IT decision makers and developers help finalize all of those requirements.
• One of the benefits of the RAD method is that even though you’ve decided on your
requirements, you can easily switch gears at any time in the development cycle.

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 2.Build prototypes.
• Next, your team begins to build out models and prototypes.
• The goal is to rapidly produce a working model to present to the stakeholder.
• Developers and designers work together to ensure they’re meeting stakeholder goals
and requirements.
• During the early stages of prototyping, developers have opportunities to create
workarounds that produce a working product without sacrificing quality.
• As the team builds a working product, here’s where user experience, testing, and
feedback plays a crucial role.

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3.Construction, test, and incorporate
feedback.
• With a working prototype, it’s now time to turn it into a working model.
• Developers gather feedback from users and construct the product.
• Make sure to implement your app building software into the process to bring your
idea to life.
• With application coding, system testing, and unit integration, the prototype and beta
systems are converted into a working model.
• Since teams are using low-code and rapid application development tools, you’re able
to quickly address any changes.

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 4.Finalize and implement.

• The final stage is to make an optimized version of your final product: Stable and easy
to maintain for longevity.
• Features, functions, and aesthetics are finalized with the stakeholder.
• Once moved to production, users can do full-scale testing or training.
• Now, your product is ready to be presented to the stakeholder!

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Fundamental Programming
concepts and Methodologies
• Understand RAD tools
• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts
• Modular and Reusable code
• Event-Driven Programming
• Database Integration
• Error Handling and Debugging
• Code Generation and Code Snippets
• Customization and Extensibility
• Version Control

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RAD advantages and disadvantages
Pros:
• Allows the changing requirements to be accommodated during the development.
• Reusability of components and prototyping enable developers to measure the
progress of the project.
• Powerful RAD tools allow to have frequent iterations.
• Highly skilled people produce results in less time with higher productivity.
• Development time is less.
• Encourages quicker early reviews and customer feedback.
• Integration issues are resolved due to early involvement of the integration.

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RAD advantages and disadvantages
Cons:
• Dependency on highly skilled, trained and technically strong team members who can
easily adapt to the rapidly changing software system.
• Modelling skills are required that allows team members to alter the elements using
Rapid Application Development model.
• Only suitable for the component based systems.
• User involvement is must throughout the lifecycle as this requires equal
commitment from users as well as developers.
• Developers may not want to communicate with the users frequently that leads to
the failure of the rapid application development.

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 Applying previously learned concepts to
new scenarios using RAD tools.
• Understanding RAD Tool Features
• Identifying the Problem and Requirements
• Designing the User Interface
• Implementing Business Logic
• Data Integration and Storage
• Reusable Components and Templates
• Testing and Debugging
• Performance Optimization
• User Experience (UX) Considerations
• Learning from Past Projects
• Continuous Learning
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Systematic debugging strategies
• Reproduce the Issue
• Isolate the Problem
• Check Logs and Error Messages
• Use Debugging Tools
• Check Input Data
• Monitor Variables
• Temporary Debug Code
• Divide and Conquer
• Use Version Control
• Peer Review
• Search Online
• Check Environment and Dependencies
• Fix One Issue at a Time
• Regression Testing
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Debugging tools in RAD
• Error Logs and Messages
• Breakpoints
• Watch Windows
• Call Stack
• Step Into, Over, and Out
• Conditional Breakpoints
• Debugging Console
• Runtime Inspections
• Profiling Tools
• Exception Handling
• Interactive Debugging

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 References

• https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/rapid-application-development-r
ad/

• https://medium.com/coders-mojo/day-4-of-system-design-case-studies-se
ries-design-instagram-part-1-10943440f29c

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Next Lecture (Week 3)
▪ Analyzing online help examples to identify and resolve issues.
▪ Participate in online discussion groups and forums related to RAD development.
▪ Research various texts and resources to solve novel problems.
▪ Importance of clear documentation.
▪ Develop a habit of documenting the problem-solving process.
▪ Group project instructions.
▪ Group project proposal instructions (Week 5).

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 Copyright
The materials provided in class and in Canvas are protected by copyright.
They are intended for the personal, educational uses of students in this
course and should not be shared externally or on websites such as Chegg,
Course Hero or OneClass. Unauthorized distribution may result in copyright
infringement and violation of Niagara College policies.

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Questions