Implementing reuse with RAD tools' native objects

Developers and project managers need to understand how to constrain project requirements to reap the reuse advantages that RAD (rapid application development) tools offer. Designing exclusively within the capabilities of RAD Business Objects can stabilize projects, even enough to support larger applications. Four RAD tools are presented which use de facto standard RAD Business Objects, but each represents a different design for RAD tools: Microsoft's Visual Basic; IBM's Lotus Notes; Magic MSE's Magic; and Powersoft/Sybase's Powerbuilder. RAD tools are moving toward innovations in two areas: language based programming alternatives and software design support, and both these areas are discussed.