Best Software Development Methodologies and Frameworks

Even the most basic custom software development services task requires more than a dozen IT experts, a lot of discussions, meetings, planning, and usually very strict deadlines that the team must be able to meet.

This is why companies that develop software employ different methodologies for software development and frameworks. They assist in standardizing procedures, which makes evident what's happening in the custom software development services for internal and external teams and clients.

This article reviews the most popular software development methodologies--Agile, Waterfall, Lean--and reviews some of their famous frameworks.

What Are Software Development Methodologies?

Before we examine the various options, Let's examine what the word itself stands for.

The development methodology is a way how you can build your application.

Companies that offer software development services develop products in many different ways:

Shifting from less to more crucial tasks, by alphabetical order or in the order of preference, as well as other ways.

Developers can work just one day per week or five days each week or work non-stop until they

are exhausted.

Different methodologies for top software development companies can help structure the work. They outline what part of the functionality will be completed within the timeframe and when to present the results to the owners.

#1. Waterfall

The Waterfall was a 'classic' approach to development for quite a while, between 70x and 00x. This method is very precise and linear. Each stage comes with its own set of deadlines.

In Waterfall, The process proceeds only forward. A new stage begins only after the previous one has been completed. If, for instance, you're in the process of coding, there's no way you could go back and alter some aspect of the design.

The development of a waterfall-based project is divided into six phases:

Discovery. The team creates a comprehensive list of the requirements for the whole project.
Design. Solution Architects define how to create the software and how it will function.
Coding. Developers design and implement UI designs based on client needs.
Testing. QA engineers look over the entire codebase for any bugs or inconsistencies.
Deployment. Developers can integrate different system components and display their demo version to the stakeholders.
Maintenance. The team offers assistance and resolves bugs.

How Waterfall is one of the most popular top software development companies methods, functions Waterfall gives predictability, which means better and more precise budgeting. Scheduling. The schedule. u Elin areg to. Perfect for fixed-price or enterprise-level software that needs precise planning and documentation.

Benefits:

Simple, efficient, gradual, and analytic method Perfect for fixed-price or those which require extensive documentation and less involvement from the client after the discovery stage. Easier to estimate the budget/schedule's final amount.

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Drawbacks:

The requirements must be precise throughout the whole project. Requires long discovery phases

It is not flexible and difficult to make adjustments following the planning phase. The final product might not be able to be up to the expectations of the client.

Because of its inflexibility, Waterfall has almost been replaced by more flexible methods such as Agile. There's a valid reason for this: Agile success rate is higher than 1.5x greater than Waterfall projects (42 percent success rate of Agile against. 26% for Waterfall).

The Agile rate of failure is nearly three times less compared with Waterfall. This is why more companies are shifting towards Agile and even consider it an industry standard.

#2. Agile

The Agile SDLC is one of the most sought-after methods of software development, used by all sizes of companies, from startups in the tech industry to Apple. Even government software is created using Agile (acceptance rates).

Instead of building the whole product in just one Waterfall step, Agile splits development into several iterations referred to as sprints. The typical sprint spans up to a week. In that period, the team working on development creates codes, develops, and tests full features made available as a live product.

The sprint aims to produce a functioning product. For instance, if the team can dedicate a sprint for one sign-on feature, the feature needs to be tested and functioning correctly at the time the sprint is over.

The team reviews feedback and plans for the next sprint after the announcement.

Agile development goes in short (1-4 weeks) sprints

Sprints are great for complex or long-running projects (300-plus hours) or when you're unsure of the specific steps required to achieve the desired result.

By dividing large projects into shorter sprints, the team can release releases frequently, gather more feedback and requirements and decrease the chance of not meeting user expectations.

Agile benefits:

Releases frequently (1-2 every month). It is flexible and easy to modify. Each sprint is concluded with the publication of a functioning product version. The client is more involved in the development process, so there is a greater chance that the requirements of their clients are met. The team works closely and has a crystal clear idea of their roles.

Drawbacks:

It requires careful management. There is no end date for the development and no cost for finalizing competent and trustworthy team members. Many top software development firms that opt for Agile include Project Managers who oversee the team and report on the progress to their clients.

At Cleveroad, We follow the Agile methodology and use the Scrum framework daily.

Agile Framework #1 -- Scrum

The distinction between frameworks and methodologies for software development is that the former is more of an approach with strict guidelines.

Like Agile, All work done in Scrum is broken down into sprints. Each sprint begins with planning and finishes with releasing a reliable, stable product. Scrum is a methodology used to develop a software process.

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The most important Scrum elements which help teams stay flexible and quick to react to feedback from clients:

Sprint plan. Before development begins, the team has an informal meeting with the clients to discuss features, prioritize them and decide on the next two months of work.

Daily standups or meetings. Each morning, the team members discuss their accomplishments on their tasks, plans for the coming day, and any potential blockers.

Demo. Project Managers report to clients on the work completed and collects feedback from them.

Retrospectives. The team has a meeting to discuss what went wrong during the sprint, how it could be improved, and the best way to do it.

These discussions and meetings aid in controlling the team, determining obstacles, and establishing stronger relationships between the clients.

Scrum demands a lot of engagement from the user and careful sprint planning. It's a great structure for speedy MVP development and regular improvement.

Pros of Scrum:

The team releases a functional product every two weeks. Work without requirements. Very flexible Easy to make adjustments frequent discussions with your team

Cons:

Teams with inadequate self-control. Requires participation by every team member

Agile Framework #2 -- Kanban

Kanban is better than Scrum since the team's focus is on the tasks that are being completed.

How Kanban is implemented:

The project is broken down into phases and tasks. Cards identify the tasks.

The work process is divided into columns (at least three) -- To complete, In progress, and Done. While developers work on their tasks, they shift cards around columns, moving from one side to another.

Kanban is among the most flexible forms of software development processes. Usually, a to-do list is organized using a Trello or Jira board. In reality, you can also make a physical board using colorful stickers.

Kanban offers a few rituals that are Scrum-based, such as daily standups, demos, and retrospectives.

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But in contrast to Scrum, Kanban doesn't have sprints or planning meetings. When the team can complete the User Story (part of the function), the Project Manager will create an additional task and put this on the boards. This means the team can create releases more frequently at a rate of 1-2 times each week.

Kanban pros:

Simple task management with great flexibility No sprints or sprint planning. Good for projects that are in maintenance. Do not require re-planning when needs alter.

Kanban cons:

There are no sprints that can reduce developer productivity. Requires self-management from programmers. It is difficult to manage the nature of work.

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Agile Framework #3 -- Extreme Programming

The extreme Programming (XP) method is more focused on engineering practices rather than managing projects.

XP is an ideal set of development practices, which include:

Test-driven development. Programmers begin by creating acceptance test scripts and not programming.

Review of code. Programmers from different teams review each other's code for errors.

Refactoring. Restructuring the existing computer code.

Pair programming. Two developers are working together on the same feature each turn.

Continuous integration. The latest code elements are always being integrated to integrate with existing code.

Tests on the unit. Automated testing to determine whether the new feature functions correctly. Fundamental practices of the extreme programming frameworks Only a tiny percentage of teams utilize the entire range of XP practices in a single project. They usually pick one or two best methods for their particular needs.

Like Scrum, Extreme Programming starts with the process of planning. The team reviews the requirements and creates estimates of time to develop software, breaking the entire project into tasks. They then agree on timeframes with the client before getting into work.

However, developers begin by creating acceptability tests instead of developing code first and then testing it. These tests specify precisely what code has to perform following the specifications.

After creating the acceptance test, two developers meet to write code to test it. The developers work in pairs. One programmer offers a solutionW, ethaereoothnleinreo!ne comments on it and corrects errors. They then change their location and begin again.

Advantages of XP

Clear code
Rapid to provide an MVP
Less documentation required
Flexible enough to change to the ever-changing demands

Disadvantages:

A high percentage of clients are involved
Pair programming is more complex and takes longer. It may not have sufficient documentation.

#3. Lean Development Methodology

Lean is like Agile regarding flexibility, but they are two distinct methods for developing software.

Here's the distinction in the words of Mary Tom Poppendieck and Mary Tom Poppendieck, creators of the term "lean development:

Lean Vs. Comparison of Agile

Lean is frequently described as"the MVP strategy. In Lean, the team creates an initial version of their product, can learn from feedback from users then makes modifications or improvements based on the feedback.

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The following seven practices are part of the Lean methods that focus on teams of software developers and users:

Eliminate Waste. In software development, wasteful actions could refer to additional features, incomplete work delays, defects, etc.
Deliver Fast. Create an MVP product with the least amount of time. This means reducing the number of tohnelinteh! Ings that slow down the team and then eliminate them.
Delay Critical Decisions. Do not make a crucial decision until you've got all the facts.
Amplify Learning. Get feedback from users to tailor the software to the users' requirements.
Build Quality In. The quality of the software is being improved at the code level.
Optimize the Whole focus should be on improving the overall workflow instead of simply improving one component.
Respect People. Promote healthy and productive discussions between team members.

Lean is among the most efficient software development methods for startups. Lean is a popular development method among startups that haven't yet developed a final product. In launching using MVP features, the company has the chance to gain more knowledge about the raeraelomnlainrek metrics. They discover what functions for users and the ones who don't. They launch new updates to fix or enhance the software.

Learn pros:

Work with startups at the beginning of their development. The focus is on rapid development and enhanced efficiency. Shortest time to market

Lean negatives:

The client should be able to believe in the team's decisions. The client needs to be able to trust the team's decisions.

Business Analysts are required to draft requirements.

Software Development Processes and Methodologies: Full Comparison

The method or framework you choose is contingent upon your project's specifics. There isn't a universal approach that can be applied to every situation.

If you're working for an entrepreneur, opting for Agile or Lean could be better due to their flexibility. You can alter the scope of work at any point.

If you're working on improving your enterprise desktop application, and managers expect strict and thorough documentation, Waterfall may seem a better option.

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