Software Development Methodologies

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Software development methodologies refer to the approaches used to carry out the process of developing and creating software. They are crucial in providing a framework and assisting development teams in organizing and managing projects effectively.

This article will cover concepts such as software development, traditional and hybrid methodologies, as well as comparing them with each other, highlighting their main characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.

What is software development?

Software development is the process of creating computer applications and programs. The key stages of this activity include planning, design, coding, testing, and maintenance of the software. The primary goal is to meet the needs of users through a well-designed and efficient operation.

Traditional Methodologies

Traditional methodologies follow a linear, established structure that is inflexible to changes and modifications. They involve high implementation costs, with defined activities, elements, and roles. They are distinguished by two models:

Waterfall Model: It is a sequential approach where development stages, such as design, implementation, and testing, are carried out in order. Advantages: clear structure. Disadvantages: little flexibility for changes.
Spiral Model: An iterative approach that combines development and testing in cycles. The project is developed in various small parts, tested, and improved repeatedly and continuously over time.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Traditional Methodologies

The traditional methodologies have the following advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages: Being iterative, it allows for adaptation to changes and improvements as the project progresses. Adjustments can be made at any phase.

Disadvantages: Managing iterations can become complex, and careful planning and control are required to ensure success.

What are the Principles of the Agile Manifesto and which ones are they?

Agile methodologies include values such as collaboration with the customer and responsiveness to changes. They prioritize individuals and interactions over processes and tools.

Scrum

Scrum is an extensively used agile methodology in software development. Here is information about the roles, artifacts, and events in Scrum, along with its advantages and challenges:

Roles in Scrum:

Product Owner: Represents stakeholders and defines product features. Responsible for maximizing the value of the development team’s work.
Scrum Master: Facilitates and ensures the Scrum team follows Scrum practices and rules. Main goal is to remove obstacles that may impact the team.
Development Team: Professionals who perform the actual development work. They are self-organized and cross-functional.

Artifacts in Scrum:

Product Backlog: Prioritized list of all desired product features, functions, and improvements.
Sprint Backlog: Contains specific tasks the development team must complete during a sprint.
Increment: Represents the potentially deliverable version of the product after each sprint.

Events in Scrum:

Sprint: Fixed time period (usually 2 to 4 weeks) during which a potentially deliverable increment of the product is developed.
Sprint Planning Meeting: Selection of items from the Product Backlog, based on which a detailed plan is established for the upcoming Sprint event.
Daily Scrum: A 15-minute meeting held every day to plan and synchronize activities.
Sprint Review: At the end of the sprint, the increment is presented, and feedback is obtained from stakeholders.
Sprint Retrospective: The team reflects on its performance and seeks continuous improvement.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Scrum

Among its main advantages, it is necessary to mention that Scrum offers greater flexibility and responsiveness to changes, ensuring regular and incremental delivery of products. There is also increased collaboration and feedback with the customer, improving communication and teamwork.

In terms of disadvantages, it is important to mention the mental and cultural change required in the organization. Additionally, estimating the time required for tasks and activities is complex, requiring active management of the Product Backlog and prioritization of items.

Kanban

Kanban is an agile methodology based on visual task management and workflow. Here are its principles and practices, as well as the benefits it brings to software development:

Principles of Kanban:

Visualize the work: Visual boards are used to represent the workflow. Each task is represented as a card that moves through the board, allowing all team members to have a clear view of progress.
Limit Work in Progress (WIP): Kanban imposes limits on the amount of work that can be done at each stage of the process. This prevents team overload and ensures a steady workflow.
Manage the flow: The goal is to maintain a smooth and steady workflow, avoiding bottlenecks and delays. Priority is given to the most important tasks.
Make processes explicit: Each step of the process is clearly defined, and teams are encouraged to continuously improve those processes.

Kanban Practices:

Kanban Board: Used to visualize the workflow and pending tasks. Cards move through columns representing the stages of the process.
WIP Limits: A limit is set on the number of cards that can be in a column at any given time. This prevents work accumulation and promotes the completion of tasks before starting new ones.
Review Meetings: It is important to hold regular meetings to assess progress and make adjustments based on team feedback.

Benefits of Kanban in Software Development:

Visibility: There is a better view of progress and bottlenecks in program growth.
Flexibility: Kanban can adapt to all kinds of changes, requirements, and priorities. This is highly beneficial for projects that require constant modifications.
Greater efficiency: Kanban allows for workflow optimization and more efficient software delivery.
Risk Management: If issues are identified and addressed early, risks in development can be reduced.