The Agile Development Methodology refers to a practice that uses continuous improvement and testing in software application development processes. Within the Software Development Life Cycle, there are a couple methodologies commonly used today: namely Agile and Waterfall methods.
Agile is the newer of the two, and allows for more communication between customers, developers, managers, and testers. The developers within these teams split up their duties for developing the software, allowing for many different tasks to be accomplished in parallel; these are split up and assigned by priority from the team leader.
The Agile Method is done in “sprints”, where the developers complete their tasks over 1-2 weeks before their next “sprint” where they are assigned their next 1-2 weeks tasks. The Agile Method is generally set up with a ticketing system, allowing for each “sprint” to be working on various new feature requests, bug fixes, or modifications sent in by customers, clients, or stakeholders. This method continues to improve the product until it is complete and delivered to the customer.
It’s important for developers to be aware of the different methods and choose one that works best for their project. Below we will list the advantages and disadvantages of the Agile Methodology.
Source: Guru99
Additional Reading: Waterfall vs. Agile: Which is the Right Development Methodology for Your Project?
Related Terms: Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Waterfall Method, End-of-Life, End-of-Support
Is the Agile Methodology best for your business?
Advantages
- Client-focused process, making sure the client is continuously involved during every stage.
- Agile teams are motivated and self-organized often leading to a better result from development projects.
- Assurance that quality of the development is maintained.
- The process is completely based on the incremental progress. Therefore, the client and team know exactly what is complete and what is not. This reduces risk in the development process.
Disadvantages
- Not a useful method for small development projects.
- Requires an expert development leader to make or secure important decisions in team meeting.
- Is more costly when compared to Waterfall development methods.
- Projects can easily go off track if the project manager doesn’t have clear goals and frequent check-ins with developers.