Whether you are planning to develop a custom program or want to learn more about the software development process, you need to review methodologies.
Today, numerous software development methodologies exist. Choosing one over another depends on your requirements and the developer’s skills. When you are working with a developer, the first thing to ask about is the top methodologies they are using.
Let’s go over the most widely used methodologies that developers take advantage of today.
1. Agile
Agile is probably the most popular methodology you’ll meet in the modern market. This approach appeared when both developers and clients started to desire more flexibility. Since software development is a time-consuming and costly process, any mistakes made along the way could lead to tremendous expenses.
Agile is designed to accommodate change throughout the development process while speeding it up. It requires close collaboration between the developer and the client. With agile, client satisfaction is the highest priority.
The methodology involves dividing the project into stages and going over each stage once it’s completed to discover any issues and rectify them timely.
2. Waterfall
Waterfall is considered the most traditional software development method. Even though it has its disadvantages, many developers still take full advantage of it. Waterfall involves setting up a development strategy and following it continuously. It’s a linear model, consisting of several phases that must be completed before the next one starts.
Unlike Agile, Waterfall’s scheme doesn’t involve flexibility. There is no strategy to go back and modify any steps in the phase. The project has one distinctive goal, which developers strive to achieve.
The biggest advantage of the Waterfall methodology is its clear objectives and steady requirements. According to custom software developers from Entrance, the lack of flexibility turns into a benefit for less experienced software developers.
3. DevOps
Besides being a software methodology, DevOps is a set of tactics to support the organizational culture. It enhances collaboration between departments to come up with a high-quality product. When different parties are responsible for different segments of the development cycle (development, QA, operations), errors are possible.
When development, QA, and operations are working together, they are able to complete the development process faster and more efficiently. By establishing collaborative, cross-functional teams, developers managed to come up with an ideal environment for solid software development.
4. Scrum
Many people confuse Scrum with Agile. In reality, Scrum is just another methodology with an agile-like flexible approach. Just like Agile, it’s based on continuous collaboration between developers and clients.
In Scrum, the development team carries the majority of the responsibility for software development. They set their own goals and break them up into smaller parts or sprints. Usually, sprints last about two weeks.
Everything achieved during a sprint is carefully monitored and analyzed to improve the next steps and make necessary modifications.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to software methodologies, numerous options exist for development teams and clients. Discussing these approaches can help you understand how the process works and become as involved as possible in setting goals and making corrections along the way to achieve top-notch results.
Simon Frey is a software and web applications developer with experience in PHP, Laravel, MySQL, .NET. He has been developing software for the past 11 years and enjoys working on new projects. Simon is available for hire and can be contacted through his website: www.simon-frey.eu