RAD

(pronounced: rad)

A method of developing a system incrementally instead of implementing it all at once after the entire project has been programmed. In the past, information-based projects often failed because by the time they were implemented, the business had changed; but with RAD, programmers deliver components every three to four months and use a variety of automated design and development tools to create prototypes quickly. The term was coined by James Martin, and the method emphasizes personnel management and user involvement.

Joint Application Development (JAD) is another RAD concept. In general, RAD can refer to any number of features that make programming easier.