The Tenth Annual Software Technology Conference (STC) will be held 19-23 April 1998 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. "Knowledge Sharing - Global Information Networks" is the theme of this year's conference. The DACS is sponsoring a session on Rapid Prototyping/Rapid Application Development (RAD). RAD is also the theme of this issue of Software Tech News. Three of the four DACS guests to present papers at the STC summarize their positions in this issue. In addition, we present Morton Hirschberg's overview of RAD.
Mr. Larry Bernstein, founder of Have Laptop - Will Travel, argues there is no best way to produce software. He states that current theory is not adequate for analyzing the dynamic behavior of software systems under varying loads. He concludes by listing seven reasons that prototyping addresses fundamental needs of software processes.
Dr. Stephen E. Cross, director of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), discusses progress in software engineering, risks associated with current practices, especially in the development of "unprecedented systems," and a RAD approach that addresses these risks. Dr. Cross emphasizes the need for a disciplined RAD methodology, and outlines a six step process to provide the needed rigor.
Major David A. Dampier, Ph.D., Professor at the National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC, argues for the need to proceed from prototypes to a system delivered to the user more quickly than is possible with today's technology. Major Dampier envisions the use of software tools to quickly produce prototypes that can be delivered to the user. These tools will be embedded in an incremental software development methodology.
Mr. Bernstein, Dr. Cross, and Major Dampier will elaborate their views further at the STC. In addition, Dr. Erik G. Mettala, Executive Vice President of MCC, will present his perspective on RAD at the STC.
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