Project development is an area in which IT managers may use an all lot of tools and services in order to fulfil duties, resolve problems and boost their performance. Rapid Application Development (RAD) is definitely one of them and a choice all IT managers should take under consideration.
We are talking here about a landscape that changes frequently but one thing is, for sure, important to consider in order to achieve success: IT managers must work on minimizing risks and development time while maximizing the progress they make.
Talking about RAD is talking about an iterative and incremental software development process model that emphasizes an extremely short development cycle (between 60 and 90 days). Used for the first time back in 1991, by James Martin, RAD is a method designed for software development, that allows for faster prototyping and iterative delivery of the final product IT managers are working on.
It may be considered as a very good alternative model to the traditional “cascade” model that companies are used to adopt and, in general, focuses on a sequential and not that much flexible development process (see also «Digital Transformation: Low-code Vs Traditional development»).
Rapid Application Development became very popular in the last few years and is already seen as an agile and powerful methodology that really helps IT managers improve their work and, optimize times and get their projects ready on time. Compared to other development models, its most important feature may well be the powerful malleability of process adaptation and the ability to keep evolving.
Rapid Application Development is a methodology that facilitates IT managers work, with a high focus on the advantages, such as speed, cost and developer’s satisfaction.
We are talking here about something that is providing more and more performance each day, for all the users. So, something we should not ignore is that the software developed under this methodology takes real advantage in terms of the ability to adapt and be quickly tested and modified. It is a methodology that facilitates IT managers work, with a high focus on the advantages, such as speed, cost and developer’s satisfaction.
Rapid Application Development and the gains for digital transformation
In the era of digitalization and business digital transformation, there are no doubts that RAD has become the main factor of the digital age. But why is this happening?
Customer demands keeps change by the minute and, in order to grant success, business need to create a culture of digital transformation and to take advantage of them and respond adequately, before main competitors do; so, it is why a successful business should be ready to roll out applications and solutions as soon as the opportunity shines out in the market. In order to do so, traditional methods are to slow, so RAD is definitely the answer and the key everybody has been looking for. With RAD is almost as easy for the developer as to pick up some templates and put them together in their app.
In some European countries like Spain, Denmark, Sweden and UK, Rapid Application Development is already a reality and local organizations are taking advantage of that.
It helps to continuously update your applications – responding, this way, to the market demands and factors like legal regulation such as GDPR – with no need to a continuous rewrite of the whole code on the app; on the other hand, RAD improves scalability and mobility, features that are really important these days. Millennials, for instance, want everything available in their phones, no excuses accepted. So, low-code application development makes it simple, for IT managers and developers, just have to build once and let the platform automatically deploy the app across all the devices.
Unlike the traditional methods, developers don’t have to write a different code for each device. All in all, IT managers are working on boosting their business and achieving a better and faster return on investment (see also «4 ways Blue Screen can help you improve ROI with a low-code platform»).
In some European countries like Spain, Denmark, Sweden and UK, Rapid Application Development is already a reality and local organizations – as well as providers and suppliers – are taking advantage of that. For instance, in Madrid, there are a lot of good examples on innovative architectures being applied in order to bring together capabilities – from research, ventures and labs to studios, innovation centres and delivery centres – to develop and deliver disruptive innovations for clients, and to scale them faster.
OutSystems equals RAD?
In this world of Rapid Application Development, OutSystems must be a partner to consider along with Blue Screen. The Portuguese IT company is a reference in this area, but the questions remain: how does OutSystems enable Rapid Application Development?
By being an application platform-as-a-service, or aPaaS, company, their product goes beyond enabling rapid application development by including hosting, dynamic scaling, release automation, performance monitoring, user management, version control, and much more. OutSystems takes the RAD concept even further including out-of-the-box DevOps as part of the platform, elevating RAD concept to Rapid Application Delivery.
But at the core of OutSystems offering lies in a powerful development environment, in which their tool enables everyone from IT-adjacent roles to veteran IT professionals to build enterprise-grade web and mobile applications without code.
OutSystems and Blue Screen are partnering in this area, as Blue Screen’s team uses state-of-the-art technology to create highly professional enterprise apps. Full data and backend integration allow even the most difficult app concepts to be achieved within time and budget.
If you still have doubts, don’t hesitate to learn more about it here or Blue Screen. Our team of specialist will be more than happy to give you a hand and answer to all the questions you may still have.