Rapid application development (RAD) emerged as a software development methodology focused on speed and adaptability. It prioritized iterative development, prototyping, and user feedback to quickly produce functional applications. A key characteristic was its emphasis on time-boxing and the use of pre-built components to accelerate the development lifecycle.
This approach offered several advantages, including faster time-to-market, increased user involvement, and improved flexibility compared to traditional waterfall methodologies. It was particularly well-suited for projects with well-defined requirements and a need for rapid delivery. Historically, RAD gained popularity in the 1990s as businesses sought quicker solutions to meet evolving market demands, leveraging tools and techniques to compress development cycles.
