6 Popular Software Development Methodologies That Need Your Attention!

Overview

Since a good beginning ensures a good ending, it goes without saying that selecting an appropriate management system and style is critical to success while developing a software project.

It is frequently stated that the success of a software development project is highly dependent on the technique employed to manage the development lifecycle, from inception to closure. It is critical to begin with a sound plan and define your goals, objectives, budget, and deadlines.

Nowadays, there are numerous software development services and techniques available including bespoke software development, software application maintenance, integration and so forth, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

The development approach is decided by the software development project’s objectives and needs. After a thorough study, the project team determines the most effective approach for delivering the findings.

Each methodology has a number of advantages and disadvantages and performs differently in different scenarios.

Thus, in order to manage your individual software development project properly, you must select the appropriate software development technique that ensures smooth development.

Are you the manager of a development team trying to improve the organisation of your project’s workflow?

To manage projects successfully, you must select a software development process that ensures the project’s requirements are met.

Fortunately, there are various techniques available. To assist you in determining which methodology is most suited to your project’s requirements, below is an overview of the six most generally used software engineering approaches.

Examine them more thoroughly to see which one best fits your team’s size, goals, and interests.

6 Popular Software Development Methodology

1. Waterfall Development Methodology

The waterfall development method is the most classic and sequential method of software development.

Although Waterfall methodology is frequently dismissed as an “old school” or outmoded methodology, it’s beneficial to grasp its history and structure in order to appreciate the adaptability of more recent approaches.

Waterfall, which was founded in 1970, was one of the most popular techniques for several decades due to its plan-driven approach.

Waterfall demands a great deal of upfront organisation and documentation.

It is broken down into discrete sections or steps. The first stage is critical since it necessitates a thorough grasp of the project’s requirements and scope by both developers and clients before any work can begin.

The steps are rather strict and frequently proceed in the following order: define the project’s requirements and scope, evaluate those needs, design, develop, test, deploy, and ultimately, maintain.

This strategy lacks flexibility, which means that whatever the customer and developer agree on at the outset must be followed through. If any changes or corrections are required near the end stages, the Waterfall approach often requires a complete restart.

Typically, one stage must be completed before proceeding to the next, which aids with organisation and assignment. Additionally, because the entire scope of the project is known in advance, software progress can be easily tracked.

The waterfall methodology is frequently used by big, plan-driven teams with a very clear understanding of the project’s scope; nevertheless, development teams that do not function in a vacuum will likely achieve greater outcomes using more recent techniques’ flexibility and agility.

Advantages of Waterfall Methodology

• The waterfall model is quite straightforward and simple to comprehend, as it is based on approach. That is why it is advantageous for the newbie or inexperienced developer.
• Due to the model’s rigidity, it is simple to manage the projects. Additionally, each phase has distinct objectives and a distinct evaluation process.
• This model significantly reduces the amount of time required to process and complete all steps in a particular time period.
• In this form of development methodology, the requirements are really well understood/defined. Additionally, it is beneficial for smaller jobs.
• You may easily conduct testing based on the scenarios specified in the preceding functional definition.

Disadvantages of Waterfall Methodology

• If the needs are specific and provided in advance, this model can be employed exclusively.
• This methodology is inapplicable to ongoing maintenance initiatives.
• The primary disadvantage of this strategy is that once an application is in the testing stage, it is not recommended to go back and make modifications to completed software; doing so could result in a slew of problems.
• There is no way we can produce any functional software till it reaches the end of the cycle.
• You cannot incorporate valuable client feedback into the ongoing development phase.
• There is no way in this model to determine the final outcome of the entire endeavour.
• Make sure your requirements are well-defined and explicit; otherwise, this model will not work. It is particularly useful for lengthy and continuous undertakings.
• Documentation takes up a significant amount of time for developers and testers under this model.

2. Agile Development Methodology

Agile software engineering methodology was established in reaction to rising dissatisfaction with Waterfall and other rigid, inflexible approaches.

This technique is intended to accommodate change and the requirement for speedier software development.

The agile framework places a premium on people and their connections and interactions over tools; it emphasises customer collaboration throughout the development process; it adapts to change rather than sticking to a rigid schedule, and it prioritises providing working software over documentation.

In comparison to Waterfall, Agile methodology is well-suited to the complexity and variability inherent in development projects.

Agile software development teams work in small sprints or iterations, each of which has a set time and list of deliverables but is not sequential.

During sprints, teams strive to provide functional software (or some other tangible, testable output).

Agile is a collaborative process that emphasises team strengths and efficiency, as well as feedback from multiple departments and clients.

Client satisfaction is the primary goal of the Agile strategy, which teams accomplish by providing a working, tested, prioritised features on a continual basis.

 The Advantages of Agile Methodology

• Customer satisfaction is ensured through the timely release of relevant software.
• The emphasis is on people and interactions rather than processes and instruments. Customers, developers, and testers are continuously in contact.
• Agile methodologies employ an adaptive strategy that enables them to adjust to changing client requirements.
• Direct communication and continuous feedback from customer service agents ensure that there is no room for error in the system.

The Disadvantages of Agile Methodology

• It’s difficult to estimate the effort necessary at the start of the software development life cycle for some software deliverables, particularly large ones.
• Because this style prioritises working software over documentation, it may result in a deficiency in the documentation.
• The project can quickly veer off track if the customer representative is unsure of the desired outcome.
• Senior programmers are the only ones capable of making the kind of decisions required during the development process. As a result, it is unsuitable for inexperienced programmers unless they are paired with experienced resources.

3. DevOps Methodology

DevOps is not just one of the regular software development methodologies; it is also a collection of activities that promote company culture.

DevOps deployment is focused on organisational change that improves collaboration across departments responsible for various phases of the development life cycle, such as development, quality assurance, and operations.

DevOps is a trendy phrase that is gaining traction because of the unmatched benefits it provides to its consumers. The siloed development and operations processes are not synonymous with the start of DevOps.

These two departments collaborate on all processes throughout the product’s lifecycle. This is applicable to all businesses concurrently.

Continuous integration and delivery models enable development and operations teams to work on all aspects of development, quality assurance, security, and other operations concurrently.

Businesses are increasingly turning to DevOps as an agile and lean methodology that enables seamless collaboration across all phases of the development life cycle.

 The Advantages of DevOps Methodology

• The process that is more rapid Multiple operations are running concurrently, which speeds up and simplifies the process for organisations to complete on time. DevOps enables firms to expand efficiently and achieve tangible commercial results by adjusting to market changes.
• Provides Prompt Delivery Microservices and continuous delivery are two DevOps features that ensure company continuity and provide frequent updates. DevOps enables firms to innovate and enhance products continually, resulting in a superior software product.
• Reliability As the product and infrastructure evolve, the produced products become more durable and secure, giving them a competitive edge over their peers.
• Collaboration This is a collaborative platform built on strong responsibility and ownership principles. Both the development and operations teams are in sync with all phases of the development lifecycle in order to produce products more quickly and effectively.

The Disadvantages of DevOps Methodology

• DevOps necessitates cultural transformation. This is true if your firm adopts DevOps; it requires cultural change and requires businesses to restart their procedures in order to grow efficiently.
• Organisational Upgrade is another critical component for businesses to upgrade their operations from conventional ways to interdisciplinary jobs that simultaneously utilise various abilities.
• Speed and security are not always accomplished by DevOps. For some crucial projects, some firms may not be able to guarantee both at the same time, and you may need to establish a distinct security plan for each stage of your DevOps workflow.

4. Scrum Development Methodology

Scrum is another way to execute the Agile philosophy. It is based on the Agile philosophy’s fundamental principles and philosophy that teams and developers should collaborate heavily and on a daily basis.

Scrum Methodology is an iterative approach to software development that puts the team first—experienced and disciplined workers on smaller teams may have the most success with this method, as it requires self-organisation and self-management.

At the start of each iteration, team members break down the final goal into smaller objectives and work through them using fixed-length iterations—or sprints—to build software and demonstrate it frequently (which usually last two weeks).

Meetings are critical in the Scrum approach, and daily planning meetings and demos are held throughout each sprint to track progress and elicit feedback.

This incremental approach facilitates rapid change and progress while also adding value to complex projects.

Scrum combines the discipline and structure of older established software development approaches with the adaptability and iterative practises of current Agile.

Scrum is a framework for developing software in iterative cycles with the team at the forefront and center.

For a project to be successful using this software development process, it is necessary to have experienced, self-organised, and self-managed team members.

The Advantages of Scrum Development

• Utilise Scrum Development for speedy, cutting-edge development, swift code, and easily rectifiable testing errors.
• Decision-making is totally delegated to the teams in this process.
• This methodology enables initiatives to succeed by documenting business needs and other indicators of success.
• Enterprises can monitor and oversee the project development processes apparent in this strategy, emphasising frequent progress updates.
• A daily meeting enables the developer to quantify individual work readily. This results in an increase in the productivity of each team member.
• Due to the short sprints and regular feedback, adjusting to changes becomes easy.
• It is simpler to deliver a high-quality product on time.

Disadvantages of Scrum Development

• Due to the fact that Agile Scrum is a significant cause of scope creep, and there is no set end date, project management stakeholders will be motivated to continue asking for new features to be delivered.
• You must maintain an accurate estimate of project expenses and timeliness; else, this type of development model will suffer.
• It is suited for small, fast-paced projects but not for large-scale ones.
• This process requires only highly skilled team members. If the team is made up of novices, the project cannot be completed on time.
• Scrum is an effective project management methodology when the Scrum Master has faith in the team they are supervising. If they exercise excessive control over team members, it can be exceedingly frustrating for them, resulting in demotivation and the project’s failure.
• Implementing and quantifying a project quality manager is difficult unless the test team is capable of doing regression testing after each sprint.

5. Feature Driven Development

Feature-Driven Development (FDD) is an iterative and incremental approach to software development that is derived from the Agile methodology and is regarded as one way to execute it.

As with Waterfall, FDD is frequently considered as a more traditional methodology, a forerunner to modern Lean/Agile deployments.

FDD maintains the goal of often providing usable software and is particularly client-centric, making it a suitable fit for smaller development teams.

Features are a critical component of FDD. Features are client-valued bits of work that should be provided every two weeks according to the FDD strategy.

To quickly and efficiently generate real software, FDD follows a five-step process, the first of which is to develop an overarching model. Following that, create a feature list and then plan by feature.

The final two steps—design by feature and develop by feature—will consume the lion’s share of effort. At each stage, status reporting is recommended as it assists in tracking progress, outcomes, and potential errors.

Although FDD’s responsiveness to change is one of its strengths, an early grasp of the client’s requirements and the overall model can help avoid surprises throughout development.

Additionally, any feature that takes more than two weeks to develop and build must be subdivided into smaller features until it fulfils the two-week criteria.

Due to FDD’s inflexible structure, it is less appropriate for teams that balance project-driven and break-fix work.

The Advantages of the FDD Methodology

• The progress of the project is tracked using this model via a feature that is a targeted approach.
• It enables the collaboration of multiple teams. Which, in turn, minimises the amount of time required.
• FDD enables the advancement of large-scale projects and the attainment of repeated success.
• The straightforward five steps assist in completing tasks in the shortest amount of time and in the simplest manner possible.
• Because this model is based on industry standards, it facilitates the development and adheres to industry-recognized best practices.

Disadvantages of FDD Methodology

• This is not an optimal practice for smaller projects and so is not beneficial for an independent software developer.
• Due to the person’s high reliance on the lead developer, he or she should be properly qualified to act as coordinator, lead designer, and mentor.
• Clients are not given written documentation in this process, and so are unable to obtain evidence for their product.

6. Rapid Application Development (RAD)

In 1991, the Rapid Application Development (RAD) concept was created, laying the groundwork for modern iterative frameworks. It focuses on delivering items in a significantly faster timeframe without sacrificing quality.

RAD is a four-step methodology that includes requirements definition, prototyping, testing, and implementation.

In contrast to linear models, RAD places a premium on developing prototypes that meet the specified requirements and testing them with the customer. This process is repeated until the consumer is satisfied with the outcomes.

Extensive testing of the prototype generates useful feedback, which helps reduce a significant portion of the product’s risk. Utilising RAD increases the likelihood of a successful product release within the specified deadline.

RAD frequently makes use of development tools that automate and streamline the development process.

If your business objectives are well-defined and specific, you may wish to consider implementing the Rapid Application Development Methodology (RAD).

The rapid application development (RAD) approach was born out of the requirement to deliver applications in a relatively short period of time.

In a word, it is a fast adaptation of the linear sequential paradigm demonstrated by the Waterfall approach. Rapid development is accomplished here through the use of component-based construction.

Numerous teams will work on various components, including

• planning for necessities
• user interface design
• construction
• cutover

There is a significant level of user interaction. The user design and construction stages can be repeated until the user certifies that all requirements have been met.

Advantages of the RAD model

• The rapid application development paradigm assists in minimising the risk and work required of the software developer.
• Additionally, this paradigm enables clients to do rapid assessments of the project.
• This process promotes user feedback, which is always an opportunity to improve any software development project.
• There is a chance of fewer faults as a result of natural prototyping.
• Each phase of RAD provides the client with the highest priority functionality.

Disadvantages RAD model

• This methodology is reliant on a great team and individual performances to accurately identify the business’s requirements.
• It is only applicable to modularised systems.
• This technique necessitates the hiring of highly qualified developers and a design team, which may not be feasible for all organisations.
• This strategy is not suitable for developers working on low-budget projects due to the high expense of modelling and automated code creation.
• Because progress and difficulties are difficult to track, there is no documentation to demonstrate what has been accomplished.

Wrapping Up

Unique inventions have been enabled by technology, and software development methods are no exception. The critical point is that it deals with a variety of problems that require skilled management.

The latest advancements in software system development have defined procedures that operate on these platforms, enabling them to function.

Software development approaches govern the process of developing software and mobile applications. They have been used since the dawn of programming and continue to be critical for modern developers.

While new approaches have been established over the decades, none have surpassed the others.

Choosing the appropriate software development approach is contingent upon your team’s structure, experience, project needs, objectives, and budget, among other variables.

Thus, before deciding on one of these development approaches for your software development projects, you should be familiar with all of them.

However, it is strongly advised that you consult with a skilled software development firm for optimal results. Best wishes!