Application Development
Definition: Application development, also referred to as software
process, software lifecycle and software development, is the development of a
software product in a planned and structured process.
|
|
Application development involves creating a computer program, or set of programs to
perform tasks, from keeping track of inventory and billing
customers to maintaining
accounts, speeding up business process and, in fact, even improving application
effectiveness. Unlike vanilla programming, application development involves higher
levels of responsibility (particularly for requirement capturing and testing).
The Application Development industry has seen a lot of changes in a relative short
period of time. From both sides of the fence – customers looking for software solutions,
and the resource pool of application development talent – there has been considerable
upheaval over the last few years.
New architectures, myriad
platform choices, increased functionality expectations, and
requirements to protect against constantly evolving security threats are some of the
challenges faced by
application development practitioners, or Developers. In today’s
global marketplace, where outsourcing of
application development is commonplace, the
application developer needs to prove far more than his ability at programming. His
ability to collaborate, his awareness of need for integration with other enterprise
components, his familiarity with compliance issues and various other factors contribute
towards his ability to land contracts.
Several dedicated online and print magazines cater for this niche sector. Prominent
among them are eweek.com,
ADTMag.com,
and
International Developer.
Related terms:
Joint Application Development is a process of bringing end-users into the loop to
contribute their perspective.
Rapid Application Development refers to a methodology involving a progressive /
iterative model of developing applications so that a “skeleton” version of the
application is available for use at an earlier date while developers continue work
on the fully functional, robust solution that is the eventual goal.
|
