Which is best approach to software development: Agile or Waterfall

Which is best approach to software development: Agile or Waterfall

Coding happens to be the first thing that occupies our mind when it comes to software development. Software development is a long drawn out process as it entails in depth analysis, viability assessments and planning, prior to kicking off coding. After all, there is no point in spending time and effort on an idea that is wasteful. For instance, you are holding an event and have solicited the presence of a few but if you have not planned the event well, everything will fall apart. The same holds true for software development. In this write up, we will be touching upon two of the most regularly used approaches to software development—Agile and Waterfall.These two approaches are utilized for any management project, they are commonly utilized for software development. Agile and Waterfall methods happen to be two types of Software Development Life Cycles (SDLC) that assist you in setting up the method of a new project for design, development, and testing of the software. The approach you select initially defines the sequences of these stages. What sets apart Agile and Waterfall methodologies is that the former permits an iterative development and the latter adheres to strict sequence. Now let us understand these a bit better.

Also Read : The Agile Way Of Testing Software ?

What do you mean by Software Development Life Cycle?

Software development has several stages. These stages happen to be Need Evaluation, Planning, Software Designing, Software Development, Software Testing and Software Deployment which together is called SDLC . Based on the project and preferred outcomes, we have various methodologies to this lifecycle. While Waterfall and Agile happen to be usual approaches, there are others as well including V and V model, Spiral model and Prototype model. Based on the needs and other specifications (like industry, type of software, the technology used), we arrive at the approach to utilize.

Waterfall Method

Also called Linear Sequential Life Cycle Model, Waterfall is an extremely sequential approach. As it is obvious by now that the method adheres to a strict pattern, implying that the software development process proceeds merely to the next stage when the first one finishes properly. It’s meant for simple projects having no future development. The Waterfall method comprises seven phases

– Start: The beginning where you conceive the design.

-Origin & Assessment: Collect and save the things needed for your software development project such as system, software requirements, etc.

– Devise: At this stage, you will ascertain how your software will work and the elements essential for coding.

– Build: It is the implementation time when you code all components of your software & test it alongside; you also merge every element with other units to enliven the software architecture in the design phase.

– Examining: This phase warrants excessive testing for users, finding bugs, etc. You must go forward and backward in this stage to tackle the problem that you find in the tests.

– Execution: This is the final stage where the software goes live to be utilized by the clients.

Advantages

As clear as daylight: The timelines and deliverables regarding the project are arrived at beforehand. This establishes a lot of clarity and collaboration between the development team and clients.

Excessive Documentation: This approach needs excessive documentation of every phase cutting out the prospects of mistakes or misunderstandings.

Effective Work: You do not require to have the full development team for a sole task. This method gives a clear view of tasks to carry out permitting each individual to concentrate on their activities while others involve themselves in other facets of work.

Build: This is the implementation time when you code each element of your software & test it alongside; you also merge each element with other units to bring the software architecture in the design stage to life.

Hands-Off Approach: It hinges on a hands-off customer approach as post the initial design & plan, there is minor or zilch customer presence till you reach the review phase.

Demerits

Deficiency in customer engagement: Some projects need a lot of customer involvement based on the product. Also, at times clients do not like a hands-off approach. In any case, this approach leads to frustration as well.

Tough to effect changes: This method believes in following a strict sequence and this makes it tough to go to the previous one to effect changes. This can be problematic if a developer confronts a roadblock. Software development needs adaptability, more so as you cannot expect customers to be familiar with software totally from the start.

Last-Minute Testing: This is a method bound by time. It is not unusual for development projects to go behind the schedule as coding consumes a lot of time. Resultantly, to catch up with the deadline, software developer teams dilute the testing stage by doing a rush job.

Also Read : Which software development approach works best ?

Agile Method

As for the Agile method it is based a lot on involvement and adaptability. It has 2 chief components, such as time and teamwork. In this method, rather than building a timeline for the total software development project, you dissect the same into personal deliverable pieces. These deliverables are known as sprints, each of them involves a few weeks. Once a deliverable is through, it’s submitted to the clients for assessment. This assists in us drawing the plan for the next one.

Advantages

Client engagement: This promotes a positive culture of constant engagement between customer and development team.

Flexibility in terms of Deliverables: It permits dynamism as far as deliverable is concerned. It depends upon the sequence of significant tasks. For instance, it offers flexibility to unleash the basic software prior to building the full suite.

Highly Adaptable: This is the best part of Agile method. It offers customers a clear idea of what is accomplished and what is not; the developer can easily get into the planned sprints devoid of any hiccups.

High client involvement: It is fixated with clients as they get involved in each stage of development.

Demerits

Tough at times: It needs the whole development team to be involved in one project. This is very tough for development companies having several projects happening simultaneously.

Expensive: Time-based sprints permit planning, but prospect of deadline breaching the limit becomes higher. Also, in case a project needs to develop extra sprints, it can be a bit expensive.

Excessive Communication: This method needs very good communication, the developer has to be in regular touch with the client in the entire project.

In the end

The method to use hinges on several factors. For example, Waterfall is ideal when there is no or less need for client interference while Agile would be perfect if the project needs regular feedback and engagement of clients at every stage. Agile is basically meant for complex and big projects devoid of limited budget. You must factor in every facet prior to reaching the end game.

How Important Is Testing In Software Development

software development company

We need to focus primary on two things before launching any product in the market . The first one being the customer who are being targeted as user of product , and secondly has the product been tested throughly in the market ? The former is usually completed even at the earlier stages of the ideation process . But product can’t be launched without undergoing with the proper testing . the product development usually takes time more or less the same as custom software development , what what to be focused on it testing as integral part of stress .

Why Testing Being An Important Factor ?

Lets look at some of the points below to understand the important of testing in product lifecycle development .

Impact On Brand Image

Brand and image of organisation takes over year to build . Assume if you have purchased a product after reading the features it has been promised of , but later on after purchasing you have been found with silly mistakes and lack of major testing in the product ! Will you continue using it ? Obviously not .

No one wants to pay for the product that does not work the way it had been promised to . In fact you are building trust and reputation on the basis of product you are offering and no company wished that product to malign it .

Debugging : Testing Does More Than It

Although we agrees that testing does debug of software . But tester job is beyond just debugging . A tester should also take care of the usability of the software according to customer in comparison with other competitors in the market . In addition to it tester should also ensure that is the product is able to give ideal solution for the problem it intends to solve .

Efficiency In Development Cycle

Testing hands by hands during the developmental cycle also aids in reduction of time from development to launch , and why will company will not wish the same !

Cost Of Fixing Defects

It always act as a cost saving approach if the defects in the software has been well identified during initial developmental process itself . Once the apps goes into production the cost to big a even a little bugs will be substantially higher .

How Should Testing Be Done ?

A tester should always think beyond just debugging the nightmares in the software . Tester should work in unbiased way that can think of more on the way of customer centric approach . He also needs to take care of what if approach if someone break into the code . A best testing team is known to be the independent team sitting apart from the development team as both of the teams can have enough time to work on their projects . A good tester is known to be one who does not leaves testing even a minor things and basic requirement .

Nightmares That Could Have Been Avoided

There are plenty of examples wherein company has to bear heavy expenses and legal proceedings just because of a minor bugs in the software . We all are aware than in 2018 a famous car dealer Toyota recalled 400,000 Prius models for defects in anti lock breaking system . Toyota has to pay 3 million dollar to settle the dispute . If the testing would have been done on time , company could have save this deflation and lawsuits .

At Winklix , we have a team of tester who can be your partner in need in your software developmental process . Apart from it we are also leading software development company who can product you with amazing software development . Contact us to consult with our experts now .

Advantages Of Custom Software Development

custom software development

Every business organisation needs some kind of software no matters whether they are small businesses or big b’s . Market is flooded with software development companies to . But when it comes to choosing a software , you have 2 option to choose from : Either you can choose the ready to use mass vendor solution or can hire some software development agency to develop a customised solution as per your business needs .

Well there are numerous of factors which can help you to guide which one best fits your organisation needs . That we will guide you in our other article .
Lets quickly look at the advantages of custom software development :
 

 

Software Will Be Tailored According To Exact Needs

By getting a software as per your specific needs , you will get the features that suits the exact needs of  your organisation rather than getting n number of features which may not make any sense for your business needs . At the same time customised software solution will also work the way you want them to be , and you may be aware of what exactly they are meant to be . The best thing is it can be expanded anytime , all you have to allow is investment in time and money .

Lower Cost

Mass vendor solution for instance we say SalesForce usually comes on a monthly subscription fees which may range from $25 – $ 300 depending on the features you want . Whereas when we are talking about custom software development it required a one time huge investment … but wait it will be with you for years . So custom software development gives higher ROI when we are presuming it to be used in long term . Assume of paying $100 per month for 7 years !!

Better Software Maintenance & Improvement

Custom software has been developed according to your specific needs . So there is no point of wait for any specific features to role out in that specific software . If you ever think of improving the software , you owe the right to upgrade it as per your wish , and at the time you want .
Also you need not to be worried about what if your subscription will get expired . Will you have the database access and so on ! As long as you are using the custom software development , your software will continue to be available with you as you own the source code .

Flexible Third Party Integration

Sometimes you may find a limited option of integration while taking about mass vendor solution . And its the hard fact than you can’t do anything in case they don’t provide the same .
However this is not the case when you develop your own custom software , and you are the master of your software and they will obviously follow your own command . The custom build software can be integrated with anything which has open integration capabilities .

Better Support

Most of the custom software development company provides support packages along with their development . This support act as a better problem solving support which is provided by their trained staff round the clock .
Response time and bug fixation time is also very good and can be easily approached and addressed . Team will also provide you suggestions from time to time as and when required for any further future improvement .

Final Thoughts

Always takes decision after exploring the opportunities of both third party software and custom software . It is not at all a easy task . Always keep your mind open to explore the endless benefits of custom software development .