The software development life cycle (SDLC) is a process that software developers use to create and maintain software. The main purpose of the SDLC is to provide a structure for developing software in a way that ensures quality and minimizes risks.
There are many different models for the SDLC, but the most popular ones are the Waterfall model, the Cleanroom model, and the Agile model. Each of these models has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it's important to choose the one that's right for your project.
The Waterfall model is probably the best-known SDLC model. It's a linear approach that takes each phase of the project from start to finish before moving on to the next phase. This can be a very efficient way to work, but it can also be inflexible if changes need to be made during the development process.
The Cleanroom model is similar to the Waterfall model in that it also follows a linear approach. However, instead of starting with requirements gathering and ending with testing, this model starts.
The 12 Key Principles of Agile Methodology
1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
2. Working software over comprehensive documentation
3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
4. Responding to change over following a plan
That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.
The Twelve Agile Manifesto Principles
The 12 Agile principles are presented below and aim to create an environment that puts the customer first, provides the structure for business goals, and is capable of responding quickly to changes in market forces and user needs. Additionally, this system allows developers to adjust each stage of the development process and make it suitable for their team rather than being constrained by external factors.
1. Customer satisfaction through early and continuous software delivery
The highest priority for all 12 principles is the contentment of customers. Early and constant delivery aids in the accomplishment of customer needs and increases return on investment (ROI). Regularly obtaining functioning software additionally makes clients much more pleased, since they commonly detest waiting for updates. By implementing this principle, software developers will be capable of reacting to difficulties quickly.
2. Accommodate changing requirements throughout the development process
Deadlines should not be delayed when a new requirement emerges or a new feature has to be included; customer requests for changes, even at the end of the project, should not induce dread but rather be welcomed with enthusiasm as they are usually profitable.
3. Frequent delivery of working software
By dividing the entire development process into smaller stages, regular delivery of debugged software can be made possible. This principle also promotes a more effective assessment of implemented ideas and approaches.
4. Collaboration between the business stakeholders and developers throughout the project
The principal aim of this is to generate a synergistic effect between those who use the software and those who develop it. Working together regularly between business and developer teams greatly upgrades the quality of choices taken as well as makes communication amongst stakeholders much simpler.
5. Support, trust, and motivate people involved
When developers are provided with a conducive workspace and have their basic needs taken into account, they tend to perform better and produce better outcomes. When people are given encouragement and trust, tasks are typically completed satisfactorily and in a timely manner.
6. Enable face-to-face interactions
Face-to-face collaboration between team members is beneficial for making communication more efficient. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many software developers had to switch to a virtual work environment, which caused numerous projects to be delayed or postponed.
7. Working software is the primary measure of progress
The team's performance is largely judged based on their delivery of high-functioning software to the customer. Regardless of the amount of effort put in - including but not limited to coding, debugging, and lack of sleep - if the software doesn't do what it was intended to do, the job isn't done.
8. Agile processes support a consistent development pace
Team members should talk and set up a steady speed that they can keep up with and provide working software on an ongoing basis. The purpose of this is to avoid overworking and the need for extreme efforts. Streamlining regular processes is the solution.
9. Attention to technical detail and design enhances agility
The difference between a true professional and an ordinary team member lies in the operational excellence they maintain. By having a carefully selected set of skills and design solutions, the developer team is able to uphold the speed of the project, repeatedly refine their code, face difficulties with confidence, and respond to them productively. These facets of development make it more agile.
10. Simplicity
The software development process can be hindered by complex decisions, so it is important to ensure that the amount of effort put in is sufficient for the task at hand. If something can be accomplished in a simple manner with minimal effort and no reduction in quality, this should be prioritized. An essential factor to bear in mind is that customers are paying for results and not hard work.
11. Self-organizing teams encourage great architectures, requirements, and designs
Teams that have experience and motivation, who communicate regularly and share ideas, are able to create top-notch solutions while sustaining their development process. Those groups that must be prompted by their leader frequently ought to reconsider the entirety of their methodology.
12. Regular reflections on how to become more effective
The final principle emphasizes that ongoing development, advancement of skill, and optimizing processes are the essential components for effective work and overall success. This can be attained by continually repeating the four steps: plan, complete, examine and take action. If any issues occur, the team can easily review it and move forward.
Final Thoughts
Agile's aim is to bring together software development and business requirements. Many web development businesses deploy Agile in constructing products. Projects created according to the values and principles of Agile put emphasis on customers, inviting them to be directly involved in the process. The adoption of the Agile Manifesto across all facets of software manufacturing has demonstrated its efficacy and benefits for many processes.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Agile
There are many different types of software development methodologies, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. One popular methodology is known as agile development. Agile development is an iterative and incremental approach to software development that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and customer feedback.
One strength of agile development is that it helps to ensure that software meets the needs of the customer or client. This is because agile developers work closely with customers throughout the software development process in order to get feedback and ensure that the final product meets their needs.
Another strength of agile development is its flexibility. Agile developers are able to quickly adapt to changes in requirements or feedback from customers. This can be a big advantage over other methodologies, which may be more rigid and less able to accommodate changes.
However, there are also some potential weaknesses associated with agile development. One weakness is that it can sometimes be difficult to estimate how long it will take to complete a project using this methodology. This is because agile developers often have to make changes or additions based on customer feedback.
When to Choose Agile
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of when to choose agile over a waterfall. It depends on the specific project and organization. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you decide which approach is best for your situation.
If you are working on a project with a lot of uncertainty, agile may be a good choice. This is because agile methods are designed to deal with change and uncertainty. Waterfall, on the other hand, is better suited for projects where everything is known in advance and is not likely to change.
Agile methods are also generally more suitable for shorter projects. This is because they allow you to get started quickly and make changes along the way as needed. Waterfall, on the other hand, takes longer to set up and is more suited for longer projects with well-defined requirements.
Finally, it is important to consider the organizational culture when deciding between agile and waterfall. Agile methods require a lot of collaboration and communication between team members.
Agile Methodologies
Organizations may have varying approaches to applying Agile SDLC, including Kanban, Scrum, Extreme Programming, Feature-Driven Development, Crystal, Lean and Dynamic Systems Development Methods. In some cases, there may be a hybrid approach such as combining Scrum and Kanban (Scrumban).
We'll focus exclusively on Scrum and Kanban, the two most widely used non-hybrid Agile approaches, today.
Scrum vs. Kanban
There are a lot of different ways to manage software development projects, and two of the most popular are Scrum and Kanban. Both Scrum and Kanban have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to choose the right one for your project.
Scrum is a framework that helps teams work together to complete a project. It's based on the idea of "sprints," or short periods of time when team members work together to complete a specific goal. Scrum is great for projects that need to be completed in a short amount of time because it helps keep everyone focused on the task at hand. However, it can be difficult to keep track of all the moving parts in a Scrum project, and some team members may feel like they're being micromanaged.
Kanban is a system that helps teams manage their work by visualizing it. This makes it easy to see what needs to be done and who is working on what. Kanban is great for projects that have a lot of moving.
Article prepared by Stanislav Bakhariev, CEO IT-Rating.com Inc
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