A radio frequency identification ("RFID") reader includes a hardware platform having a transceiver, an input/output interface, a controller, and a memory. The transceiver receives communication signals from at least one RFID tag. The controller is communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the input/output interface and controls the operation of the RFID reader. The memory is communicatively coupled to the controller and contains a software development framework for developing a software application. The framework includes a plurality of predefined encapsulated functional components that interact with at least one of the transceiver and the input/output interface, to allow the software application to operate in a manner that is independent of a specific embodiment of the RFID reader hardware platform.