exercise 2

Describe the steps involved with the Rapid Evolutionary Prototyping Approach

as it applies to developing a Web application. How is it related to agile development?

Answer:

The approach that easy adaptable and extensible working model of a suggested system, not essential representative of the complete system, which provides users of the application with a physical representation of main parts of the system before implementation is called Evolutionary Rapid Prototype Approach.

Here ten steps mention which describe the Rapid Evolutionary Prototyping Approach according to (Phillips, 1998)

(1) Developers begin with a plan which should include an initial specification and a management strategy.

(2) From the plan derived a rapid analysis which serves to identify the first increment to be prototyped. Ideally this will be the highest-risk element of the system, which allows developers to get the most initial leverage from the user’s interaction with the prototype.

(3) Database creation for developing a database of simulated user data for the system to operate on

(4) Menus or interaction modes are developed to allow the user to interact with the data

(5) Attach the databases, menus, and interaction modes to some initial functionality.

(6) Initial prototype is completed and can be put into iteratively development cycle which involves user feedback and a repeat of steps (2) through (5)

(7) User accepted prototype is completed

(8) Design can be derived from the prototype for the finished system

(9) The final design is tuned to provide the required level of performance and become a final system

(10) System goes into operation and maintenance phase

Agile development related to Rapid Prototype Approach using minimum features that can very simple and very clear to understand to everyone. For step up and changes in features are always open in every development cycle by accepting all updates on time of different user’s requirements. This approach is really evolutionary approach to the Agile software development because it help to minimize the cost and time and meets the need of stakeholders.

References:

Connell, J.L. & Shafer, L. 1989. Structured Rapid Prototyping: An Evolutioary Approach to Software Development. Yourdon Press Computing Series.

Phillips, Greg, (1998) Evolutionary Rapid Prototyping. Retrieved 2^nd April 2010, from http://phillips.rmc.ca/courses/493-1998/lectures/rapid-prototyping/rapid-prototyping.html

Image Retrieved 2^nd April 2010, from:

http://www.stsc.hill.af.mil/crosstalk/1994/11/Automate_fig2.gif