Waterfall methodology is one of the defining software development methods that follow traditional software development practices. Rapid Application Development (RAD) on the other hand, is a great iterative approach that falls in line with the demands and pacing of modern software development.
So, how do you think waterfall vs. RAD would turn out? That’s what we’re here to find out. But before we begin, we need to look at the pros and cons of each before getting into the final comparison.
Pros of the Waterfall Model
- Objectives are more simple and easy to align for all teammates
- Helps to strictly adhere to specified project timelines
- Planning takes priority over predictability
- Testing parameters are specified before the development phase begins
- Offers better control and departmentalization for project managers
- Since all steps are predicted, the project is far easier to manage
- Helps avoid objective or process overlapping since one phase doesn’t begin till the previous one is over
Cons of the Waterfall Model
- High delivery time
- Doesn’t change direction from the original plan
- Often requires a hard reset in the case of a plan change
- Clients or users aren’t involved in the development process
- Not a great methodology for working on complex projects
Pros of the RAD Model
- Drastically reduces development time
- Customization is far more accessible
- Clients and users are actively involved in the development
- Allows for improved feedback loop
- Development components are reusable
- Allows multiple changes in different iterations
Cons of the RAD Model
- Human error elements can cause developers to skip over important steps while rushing to reach a deadline
- The entire project relies on the skillset of the developers
- Constant meddling of clients and users can interfere with the development cycle
- Can only be used to build modularized systems
- Different iterations can get highly expensive
Waterfall vs. RAD – Ultimate Comparison
| Parameters | Waterfall | RAD |
| Name | Also known as the Traditional Model | Also known as the Iterative Model |
| Risk Level | High | Low |
| Goal | Creating software with high assurance | Delivering software through rapid iterations |
| Waiting Time | Waiting time for running the application is too high in most cases | The waiting time for running the application is much lower |
| Team Size Requirements | Requires a larger team | Team size can be increased or decreased according to progress |
| Changes | Any required changes can only be implemented in the planning stages, otherwise, the process is highly expensive | Changes can be made at any stage of the development cycle |
| Delivery | The product delivers once the entire cycle is completed | RAD model offers early deliveries and updates the software as required through feedback collection |
| Time To Reach Ready State | A software is ready to run only after the development has ended | The software is ready to run right after the first iteration |
| Customer Control | Customers have near zero control during the development process | Customers control the development through feedback |
| Feedback | Doesn’t take feedback from customers or clients | Requires constant feedback to update product |
| Ideal Clients | Precise product owners who have a specific idea of their demands | Product owners who are great communicators and who only have a big picture of the product |
| Project Management Method | Always stick to the time and deadlines specified during the early planning phase | Highly adaptive method that constantly changes to fit the current needs |
| Tech Stack | Doesn’t change once the specifications are made | A new tech stack can be brought in anytime to adapt to the latest trends |
| Feature Management | Every feature in the primary plan is included | Only includes features that can solve core pain points of the target audience |
| Cost | Costs are fixed since the plan assumes there won’t be any changes | Costs can change depending on the number of iterations |
| Prototyping | No | Yes |
When To Use The Waterfall Model
- When the project is short
- When you have a precise idea of the requirements due to prior experience
- When you have a budget you don’t want to exceed
- When you want to have higher amounts of control over your project
When To Use The RAD Model
- When you need to develop a functioning software in as little time as possible
- When you have a large-scale project to work with
- When you’re looking for a development model that can adapt to sudden changes
- When you’re building software of which the requirements are unclear
- When you want to create a user-centric product by involving them in the development process
To Wrap It All Up
While the RAD model has more use cases in modern software development scenarios, waterfall is still a great method to efficiently create small-scale projects with great precision.
Regardless of the methodologies you choose as your final pic, Impala Intech is here as your trusty software development partner to help you achieve your development goals.
FAQ
The key phases in Waterfall are Requirements, Design, Implementation, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance.
RAD methodology incorporates user feedback and changes through continuous iterations.
RAD methodology is more likely to encounter scope changes due to its flexibility.
Waterfall is generally more predictable in terms of project timelines.
Documentation is extensive in Waterfall and more concise in RAD.
