12 Software Development Methodologies

Do you have a project idea but are constantly concerned with the methodology? Your concern is now over! This post will learn about software development methodologies and their benefits and drawbacks. You can select the most acceptable strategy for your upcoming bespoke software development project by comparing several software development processes.

Software and applications require a systematic process to produce the desired result. Integrating many regulations, functions, and precise processes for software development is a phase of the software development process.

What Is Software Development Methodology?

The phrase “software development methodology” outlines the systematic procedures used to execute the project. Established new software development methodologies over time to take advantage of the technologies and resources that were already accessible. A platform provided by software development methodologies enables engineers to collaborate more effectively as a team. It regulates information sharing within the team and formalizes communication.

Many tech businesses concur that using a software development approach is essential for their team. However, the issue of whether the approach is superior is still up for debate. That is attributable to a lack of one. Each strategy has its advantages and disadvantages.

The team’s structure, requirements, and objectives will determine how to utilize each best. Furthermore, this can apply many software development approaches to various applications.

12 Types Of Software Development Methodologies

We can use a multitude of development strategies to develop software. We have compiled a list of the most well-liked techniques as a service to you. Pick the most suitable option for your development team.

1. Agile

With the agile methodology, software developers create a structured software management process that enables the project to undergo periodic adjustments.

You’ll develop a conceptual framework within the approach rather than a rigid one. When carrying out your present and future tasks, this is essential.

The first step is to create software in sprints or iterations (short time-boxes). It can take a few weeks to complete, and gradually we can add new functionality during each cycle.

The goal of agile software development is to lower risks like the following:
-Expense Overruns

-Bugs
-Unanticipated changes in software requirements

Advantages

• Effective adaptive strategy
• Customer satisfaction and communication transparency
• Low-risk elements
• Continuous release of Modules for client input.
• Easy debugging of frequently found errors
• early release of the product’s beta version

Disadvantages

• Ineffective documentation
• Not the best course of action for beginner or inexperienced developers
• Extensive training is needed to comprehend the procedure
• In a larger project, it is challenging to solve project complexity
• When the workflow is interrupted, the team loses track of the projects, which causes consistency.

2. Scrum Methodology

One of the most adaptable Software Development Methodologies is probably scrum, an incremental and iterative approach based on the Agile philosophy. The Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team are all involved in this technique.

The product owner solicits customer feedback and ensures the team is on track to meet the customer’s objectives. While doing so, the Scrum Master is a facilitator and ensures that everyone on the team is familiar with the Scrum methodology. The group is in charge of carrying out the development.

How tasks are completed in sprints is what makes Scrum a perfect methodology for a fast-paced setting. Every sprint might last up to 4 weeks. Teams can identify problems, present ideas, test them, and get feedback soon, especially for quick execution. It makes taking on projects that are fast-paced much simpler.

Advantages

• The team determines the primary aspects of the project.
• Daily meetings and discussions encourage the evaluation of individual productivity, which improves the efforts of each team member.
• Issues are identified swiftly by the Scrum process, which leads to brief meetings and easy team focus.
• Scrum allows for flexible prioritization of customer-driven requirements. Business requirements documentation is not necessary for effective development.
• Since there is always something to evaluate after each sprint, clients are involved in the production cycle.
• The swift feedback cycle improves the project’s ability to maintain focus.

Disadvantages

• It is an ineffective technique for team members with low or average skill levels.
• For a project to be successful, time and cost estimation must be highly accurate.
• For large project types, this methodology performs relatively poorly.

3. Waterfall
This Software Development Methodology follows a conventional methodology that is no longer widely used in software development. The waterfall model was the dominant paradigm for many years, but its strict methods couldn’t keep up with the changing demands of software development.

The waterfall method is more frequently used to project management than for product development. Project managers gather all required data at the start of a project and utilize it to create an informed action plan immediately. The term “waterfall” refers to the typical linear, step-by-step method used in this approach, where each activity flows into the next.

The strategy is rigorous & plan-driven, giving minimal space for changes. It prioritizes adhering to the plan over making adjustments in response to changing conditions, which is the antithesis of agile.

Advantages

• It is suitable for new developers in this industry.
• It has a linear structure, making it simple to comprehend.
• There is barely room for information to be miscommunicated because the structure is laid out.

Disadvantages

• The project may wander off course if a developer dismisses customers’ feedback in the early phases.
• Although it is a simple model, it is stiff, which makes adjustments challenging.
• It is not appropriate for a challenging project.
• The amount of documentation is substantial and time-consuming.

4. Lean Methodology
Lean manufacturing’s fundamental principles are the foundation of lean software development. Lean development, at its core, aims to increase efficiency by eliminating waste. Team members can operate efficiently by eliminating chores and activities that don’t provide genuine value.

Teams can leverage the workflow provided by the five lean principles to find waste and improve processes. Another way that lean can help individuals operate more successfully, productively, and efficiently is through a guiding mentality.

Agile and other Software Development Methodologies can benefit from poor attitudes and principles. Agile principles can be scaled across large or expanding enterprises with the help of lean development.

Advantages

• It works well enough for budgetary control.
• It enables the team to go forward more quickly. Most tasks are finished quickly, meeting deadlines.
• The Lean methodology empowers the development team in its working process, encouraging them to develop sharp decision-making skills.

Disadvantages

• All decisions must be precise and effective to benefit from time and budget.
• Flexibility is restricted to prevent unwanted deviation and time waste and to keep the project focused on the plan.
• For this strategy to be successful, teamwork, discipline, and advanced talents are fundamental requirements.
• The business analyst on a lean project must have adequate skills and experience for formal requirements documentation.

5. Prototype Model

The prototype approach is one of the most highly acknowledged Software Development Methodologies. It enables developers to work on the prototype version of the eventual product rather than creating fully functional software. After that, the prototype is made accessible to customers for testing, review, and feedback.

The prototype is refined, and multiple iterations are done as per the feedback shared by the customer. The benefit of the prototype technique is its thorough analysis, which identifies potential problems before the actual development starts.

The effectiveness of this strategy depends not only on the development team but also on how well they interact with the test participants. It’s also important to note that the developers frequently bear the cost of creating the prototype.

Advantages

• This technique enables the early stages of development to identify risks and rectify inaccuracies.
• When working on a prototype, developers and testers may simply scale it to the client’s expectations, check whether they are on target, and make modifications as necessary.
• It is the most effective technique to introduce and show a client or investor the software solution.
• In the absence of the document, gathering and analyzing requirements is simple.
• Developers gain the opportunity to receive insightful input from testers at an early stage of the development cycle, which helps them avoid wasting money after launch.
• The constant communication that results from this strategy strengthens the bond between the client and developer.

Disadvantages

• There isn’t an initial product that is ready for the market.
• Numerous designs and changes to the code may result from ongoing changes. This slows down the workflow.
• The software provider may occasionally cover the cost of a prototype.

6. Rapid Application Development
Modern iterative frameworks were built on the Rapid Application Development (RAD) methodology, which was released in 1991. Its focus is on building solutions in a short period while maintaining their quality.

Prototyping, testing, and implementation are the four steps of the RAD framework, which is used to defend project requirements. Contrary to linear models, RAD strongly emphasizes creating prototypes based on the specifications and testing them with customers. This is done through numerous iterations until the client is satisfied with the outcome.

A substantial chunk of the product risk is reduced as a result of thorough testing of the prototype. With RAD, there are excellent possibilities that the product will be released successfully and on schedule. RAD frequently uses developing technologies that could streamline and automate the development process.

Advantages

• Function-specific tasks are completed individually before being incorporated into the project. By doing this, the number of development-related errors is reduced.
• Routine testing also reduces the likelihood of significant errors in this strategy.
• Customer input is helpful since it helps to sustain and raise the caliber of software solutions.
• The software development process is constantly accessible to the client.

Disadvantages

• Low-budget projects cannot effectively use the RAD.
• Only software projects with systems architectures that can fit into modules benefit from this methodology.
• Identifying, interpreting, and creating the client’s requirements necessitate a solid professional team.

7. Dynamic Systems Model

The Rapid Application Development framework is mainly responsible for the Dynamic System Model’s principles. This improved methodology aims for quick delivery and project goals aligned with business requirements. It comprises four iterative phases: design and builds, functional model, feasibility and business analysis, and implementation.

End users are heavily involved in the process and contribute a lot of input. This lowers the chance of deviating from the project’s objectives and specifications. Additionally, the Dynamic Systems Model has thorough documentation, which is missing from most Agile frameworks.

Advantages

• Simple to use with developer access to end users.
• The dynamic systems development technique speeds up the creation of basic functionality.
• This process heavily incorporates end users, resulting in a profound grasp of how the system works.
• This approach always keeps projects within their allotted budgets and time frames.

Disadvantages

• Its intricacy makes it a less common model.
• Only businesses with a minimal budget or one-time tasks can use it effectively.

8. Feature-Driven Development
A software development process built on Agile is known as “Feature Driven Development” or FDD. Its straightforward objective is to avoid confusion that results in expensive rework. Occasionally, FDD is misconstrued for concentrating on each program feature. Not at all.

Feature Driven Development divides development tasks into a list of features for the overall model. Developers go through several iterations of planning, designing, and building for each feature. Two weeks should be enough time to complete a feature. FDD produces immediate, noticeable results for all the functions and activities outlined. This strategy delivers information through thorough documentation intended for large teams.

Advantages

• system development in a haste
• Working with many teams is efficient
• Control large-scale projects to achieve recurring success

Disadvantages

• Unsuitable for a single project
• high reliance on the project manager and team leader
• There is insufficient client documentation

9. Extreme Programming Methodology

The XP methodology, often known as extreme programming, is agile and concentrates on creating high-quality programs. It is mainly used for software development in unstable environments. The XP methodology’s primary goal is to make software requirements less expensive. Instead of emphasizing the steps, the XP technique focuses on several concepts. These values include a consideration, cooperation, and simplicity.

Advantages

• It is an approach to software development that is economical.
• The production process includes the participation and contact of the customer.
• Practical planning and task scheduling are emphasized. As a result, developers continue to be dedicated to a project.
• Effective for both small and large teams.
• The likelihood of success increases with sound risk management.

Disadvantages

• Due to ambiguous and shifting project requirements, it is difficult to provide a realistic quote for this strategy.
• All parties must frequently meet and review the situation, which costs money and takes time.
• It requires too many code modifications, which might be tiresome for some developers.
• With this strategy, changing the original criteria at a later time is expensive.

10. Spiral Methodology
The Spiral lifecycle model is considered to be rather complex. It works by early risk detection and risk mitigation in a project. Starting modest, it includes the study of risks and the provision of measures to eliminate such risks. It then determines if the spiral iteration can move to the following level. In contrast to the waterfall model, the spiral technique enables the developer to make changes to the code or design while it is still being tested. Although it needs proper management, it is appropriate for most project types.

Advantages

• It involves in-depth risk analysis, which results in minimal risk.
• In general, this strategy works well for creating huge, high-risk initiatives.
• Even at the end of testing, the call still adds features and functions. The Spiral model allows for adjustments by continually rotating all of the phases.

Disadvantages

• Projects with low-risk factors are a waste of resources.
• The effectiveness of the strategy depends on the risk analysis. Results may be flawed if the risk analysis is flawed.
• There is a chance that the progress won’t be definitive, leading to a downward cycle with no end.

11. DevOps deployment methodology
Software development and operations are combined in the DevOps deployment technique (information technology operations). Together, they build a set of procedures to enhance interaction and coordination amongst the divisions in charge of a product’s development.

The communication between the product development and operational teams is continuous (IT operations.) To help teams save time, improve customer satisfaction, accelerate launch, and lower risks, it relies on continual feedback, just like many other agile procedures.

DevOps deployment procedures are repeated to enhance customer satisfaction through new features, functionalities, and enhancements. This technique does, however, have significant shortcomings. Once a customer is happy with a finished product, some customers don’t desire ongoing system updates.

Advantages

• Human error may be decreased.

• You can expedite the assignment of assignments to each department or person.

• It supports constant or streamlined procedures.

• Reduces resource waste in data management, cloud infrastructure, and analytics

• A better client experience as a result of superior systems

• The development and operational teams have a transparent project vision.

Disadvantages

• Transitional problems: You may need to rebuild your team, internal procedures, and apps to use the system.

• Personnel shortage: Because it is a new methodology, it is difficult to locate skilled DevOps engineers.

• Selecting the appropriate instrument in this situation can be difficult.

12. Incremental model approach

Software development is broken down into numerous independent modules using the incremental process. The requirements analysis, design, implementation, and testing phases are completed here.

The capability of earlier modules is increased with each new module. This keeps happening until the desired result is obtained. This paradigm is employed when project requirements are stringent and an extensive timeframe.

Advantages

• Simple mistake detection
• Debugging is easy.
• Flexible
• Risk management occurs during iteration.
• Early on, the client provides valuable capabilities for use.

Disadvantages

• Each cycle increases the price.
• Planning is necessary.
• Required is a specified module interface.

Conclusion

Using the appropriate Software Development Methodology must be a priority for any firm. This can help your process go more smoothly and produce the most satisfactory outcomes.

It’s advisable to consult with your development team before choosing a platform. Comprehend the guiding concepts, applications, benefits, and drawbacks. This will aid in choosing the ideal model for your company.

Have trouble deciding on the best software development for your group?

To get guidance from a qualified source, consult one. Businesses of all sizes can benefit from the top software solutions offered by Trantor. Still uncertain about what next, feel free to contact us.