The Agile software development model has increasingly gained popularity among the other SDLC models. It is due to the current project scenarios. The SDLC models can be either sequential design process or incremental methods. Agile software development is an iterative or incremental design method.
Current project scenarios:
The current project scenarios that make Agile software development model the more popular one due to below reasons:
- projects are mostly complex
- frequently changing requirements
- new technology based development
- need for new type of software
- quick release of software
Agile Manifesto:
In Feb 2001, the group of individuals named themselves as “The Agile Alliance” came up with Agile manifesto. It is the manifesto for Agile software development. The Agile software development values include:
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Responding to change over following a plan
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools:
The success of the agile software development is dependent on the involvement of people in IT team and interactions between them. The amount of communication is high and continuous. The IT team members frequently meet and interact to discuss. The discussions are on potential issues, finding solutions to technical problems and getting updates.
Working software:
In agile software development, software development and release is module wise. The client would like to see the functional software rather than documentation. The client is able to provide the feedback on the timely manner. This helps in improvements and meet changing needs of business.
Customer collaboration:
The customers are in close collaboration with the software development team. The client is able to provide clear requirements on timely manner. The customers can understand requirement inconsistencies. Hence provide their valuable feedback.
Responding to change:
In most of the complex projects, there are frequent changes. The changes can be in the client requirements or project environment. The IT team should frequently reorganise to incorporate the changes. The project team should adopt the tools & techniques to provide quick response to changes. The software quality greatly improves.
Check your understanding: Agile Manifesto
1. In which year Agile software development method was founded?
2. Describe your understanding on agile model in more than four sentences.
