What Does a Rapid Application Developer Do?

A rapid application developer is a professional who designs computer programming applications. This type of individual must be able to work quickly to get applications to the market and, in turn, to consumers. Rapid application development is the process of creating a system in just two to three months, thus increasing the likelihood that a company will be able to use it rapidly. Developers in the industry usually have two-year master’s degrees in computer science, which are possible only after the individuals earn four-year bachelor’s degrees in a related field such as information systems.

Creating programming applications that meet client needs is the chief responsibility of a rapid application developer. A person who works in this capacity needs to be able to develop suggestions for technical designs when creating and merging programs according to established specifications. For this reason, the individual must understand the jargon of technical specifications. Rapid application developers can create programs for devices such as cell phones, the Internet, or an operating system.

In addition to creating computer applications, making sure that these applications operate correctly and are ready for customers to use also is a valuable part of the developer’s job in this industry. The testing process involves using several software tools and programming languages to confirm the applications’ functionality. Then, the rapid application developer needs to add finishing touches to the application to make it work at its optimum level. For this reason, strong problem-solving skills are important in this job.

Making sure that applications comply with coding requirements and established procedures is critical for an application creator as well. For this reason, a rapid application developer must be able to provide a definition of what a potential program does before beginning any project. He or she additionally needs to identify what input is required to make the application work and what the expected outputs are, along with any interfaces — points where two systems meet and interact. Maintaining source code that comprises an application or program is also a part of the rapid application developer’s job.

Application producers additionally are responsible for altering current computer programming applications when necessary. Offering technical support when production problems arise is significant, as programming applications sometimes require troubleshooting to fix bugs. Because a rapid application developer often works with other programmers along with computer users and managers, he or she needs to have solid verbal and written communication skills as well as interpersonal communication skills.