A growing body of software development organizations implement process methodologies. Many of them are in the defense industry, which in the U.S. requires a rating based on 'process models' to obtain contracts. The international standard for describing the method of selecting, implementing and monitoring the life cycle for software is ISO 12207...more

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

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:
app dev
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.