Agile software development methodologies are a group of development techniques or methods that enable software development using various types of iterative development techniques.
These methodologies work on the basis of continued evolution of requirements and solutions that occurs by establishing collaboration between self-organizing cross-functional teams.
A way of encouraging the well-managed and organized project management process, these methodologies allow for recurrent inspection and revision of the tasks.
Giving a scope to adapt the best engineering practices, these methods also assist in the delivery of high-quality software products.
While there are a number of different methodologies available, some of the common ones used are as mentioned below:
1. Scrum
A light-in-weight project management framework, this is an excellent tool for managing and controlling iterative and incremental projects.
Owing to its simplicity, demonstrated efficiency, and ability to act as a wrapper for different engineering projects, Scrum has been able to win a huge clientele in the market.
Now, scrum has been demonstrated to scale to numerous groups crosswise over expansive associations with 800+ individuals.
2. Lean
Originally developed by Mary and Tom Poppendieck, Lean Software Development is an iterative software development methodology that owes a lot of its standards and practices to the Lean Enterprise development, and other organizations like Toyota.
Lean methodology works on the following principles:
- Eliminating the waste
- Intensifying learning
- Choosing as late as permissible
- Delivering as fast as possible
- Strengthening the team
- Building integrity
- Seeing the whole
Lean methodology underscores the speed and productivity of improvement work process, and depends on quick and solid input amongst software engineers and clients.
It focuses on the effectiveness of the utilization of group assets, attempting to guarantee that everybody is gainful however much of the time as could be expected.
3. Kanban
This methodology is used by the organizations that focus on continual delivery without overburdening the development group.
Like Scrum, Kanban is a procedure intended to enable groups to cooperate all the more successfully.
It works on three basic principles that include:
- Work flow for the day i.e. seeing every item as informative in context of each other
- Limiting the amount of work in progress (WIP)- defining the expected work delivery from every team at a particular time
- Enhanced flow i.e. taking up the next thing on priority in backlog once the current task is completed
4. Extreme Programming (XP)
Extreme Programming or XP, originally written as Kent Beck, has risen as a standout amongst the well-known and disputable agile methodologies.
A disciplined way to deliver high quality software products, XP advances high client association, rapid feedback loops, ceaseless testing, nonstop planning, and close collaboration to deliver software products frequently.
The first XP formula depends on four basic principles that include simplicity, communication, criticism, and mettle.
As well as twelve supporting practices that include planning the game, minor releases, customer acceptance testing, simple design, pair programming, test-driven development, re-factoring, continuous integration, collective code ownership, coding standards, metaphor and sustainable pace.
5. Crystal
The Crystal methodology is a standout amongst the most lightweight, versatile ways of software development.
Comprising of a number of agile methodologies like Crystal Clear, Crystal Yellow, Crystal Orange and others, its exceptional qualities are driven by various factors like group estimate, framework criticality, and undertaking needs.
Like other methodologies, Crystal also focuses on early product delivery, high client association, versatility, and removal of distractions.
6. Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)
Dating back to 1994, Dynamic Systems Development Method methodology was developed to meet the need of delivering an industry standard project delivery framework.
It has advanced to a level of developing into a tool that can act as a foundation for planning, managing, executing, and scaling agile process and iterative software development projects.
This tool depends on nine key rules that include business needs/esteem, dynamic client association, enabled groups, visit conveyance, coordinated testing, and partner cooperation.
The major focus of DSDM before delivering the final product is to ensure that a product is fit to meet the business needs.
One must try and complete all the critical works and project using this methodology.
It is also important to include some of the lesser important tasks in each time-box so that they can be replaced with higher-priority work as and when required.
7. Feature-Driven Development (FDD)
Originally developed and articulated by Jeff De Luca, Feature-Driven Development (FDD) is a client centric and pragmatic software process.
As the name indicates, features as use cases are used to the Rational Unified Process and user stories are to Scrum, which are the primary source of requirements and the primary input into your planning efforts.
Driven on the basis of model, FDD is a short-iteration process that begins by setting up an overall model shape followed by a series of two-week “design by feature, build by feature” iterations.
FDD follows eight practices to complete the entire development process:
- Domain Object Modeling
- Developing by Feature
- Component/Class Ownership
- Feature Teams
- Inspections
- Configuration Management
- Regular Builds
- Visibility of progress and results
Specifying very small tasks to be attained, FDD enables better work management by calculating the product’s delivery on the basis of tasks accomplished.
Conclusion
The basis aim behind every agile software development methodologies is to ensure that a high quality software product is delivered within stipulated time.
Therefore, no matter what tool or methodology you use, your priority continues to remain the delivery of superior quality product.
