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Agile is in line with the Agile Manifesto's principles and values. Based on that approach, requirements, plans and results are examined regularly, and the teams are encouraged to make quick changes.
The development teams issued three main principles in the context of a symbol Manifesto of Agile principles to Software Development:
Team Interaction: It is impossible to overstate the importance of constant interaction between individuals when developing software. Software development is a collaborative process. Tools matter, but collaboration also matters.
Documentation: Users and co-workers will benefit from the documentation. Software development's main goal is not to provide extensive documentation but rather software that will bring financial benefit.
Collaboration with the Customer: Development teams need to work closely to stay connected regularly. It is easier to understand the needs of all stakeholders when teams receive continuous feedback.
Sprints are short iterations that can be controlled and follow the Agile principles. In just 2-4 weeks, one Sprint can result in a complete development cycle, including design, analysis, coding and testing. Each Sprint improves the software, which is already working. This brings developers one step closer to the finished version.
Agile Software Development - What Is It?
Agile software development is a methodology which anticipates and combines flexibility with pragmatism in the final product. Many companies must undergo a culture shift to adopt agile software development because the focus is on delivering individual parts or pieces of software, not the whole application.
Agile has many benefits, including its ability to support teams as they adapt to an ever-changing environment while still maintaining the focus on delivering business value efficiently. Agile's collaborative culture improves the organization's efficiency, as the teams understand and work together. Agile software developers can confidently deliver a quality product as testing occurs throughout the development process. It allows for the ability to change things as necessary and to alert teams of any issues.
Agile is the preferred development method in many companies. However, it may be eclipsed by DevOps' growing popularity.
Agile: The Four Values
The Agile Manifesto was created in 2001 by 17 professionals working on software development. They met to discuss ideas around lightweight software and developed the Manifesto. The Agile Manifesto outlines four key values. Although there is debate over whether it has become obsolete, the Manifesto remains the foundation of the Agile movement.
The importance of individual interactions is greater than that of processes and tools: Human interaction drives the development process, and people respond to business requirements. The people are at the heart of all development, and they should take precedence over processes and tools. The team is less likely than if the tools or processes drive the development to adapt and respond to changes and meet the customer's needs.
Focus on working software over thorough documentation: Before Agile, much time was spent documenting the products throughout their development. It was a long list of requirements that would delay the process. Agile doesn't eliminate documentation but streamlines the process so that the developer only receives the necessary information to complete the task, such as the user story. While the Agile Manifesto still values documentation, it gives greater importance to working software.
Collaboration instead of contract negotiations: Agile emphasizes collaboration with the client and the project manager to determine the delivery details. Collaboration with customers means they're included in the development process, not only at the start. This makes it easier for the teams to satisfy their customer needs. In Agile, for example, customers can be invited to demos at various intervals. The customer can also interact daily with the team, be at all meetings, and ensure the product is what they want.
Focus on adapting to changes: Traditionally, software development avoided change as it was viewed as an unwanted expense. Agile removes this notion. Agile's short cycles allow for easy changes, allowing the team to modify their process to meet its needs. Agile software development is generally based on the belief that change can always be used to enhance a project or add value.
Agile Principles: 12 Principles of Agile
Agile Manifesto laid out 12 principles that are core to the development process. These are:
- Delivering valuable and timely work to customers will help you satisfy them.
- Divide large tasks into smaller ones that you can complete quickly.
- Self-organized groups produce the best results.
- Give motivated people the required support and environment and trust them to do the work.
- Develop processes to promote sustainability.
- Keep a steady pace when completing work.
- Even late in the project, it is okay to accept changing requirements.
- Gather the team of project owners and the business owner on a regular basis during the entire project.
- The team should regularly reflect on improving their effectiveness and then adjust the behavior as necessary.
- You can measure progress by the completed amount of work.
- Strive for excellence.
- Use change to gain a competitive edge.
Agile Software Development Cycle
Six steps can be used to break down the Agile software development process.
- Concept
- Inception
- iteration/construction
- Release
- Production
- Retirement
The concept is the first step. It involves identifying the business potential in every project and estimating the time and effort required to finish the project. The gathered information can be used to rank projects and determine which are worthwhile based on their technical and financial feasibility.
The team is chosen, the finance is created, and the initial client needs are reviewed in the second phase, referred to as conception. Creating a timeline that clearly defines the teams' responsibilities and when they are expected to complete their work for each sprint is also important. Sprints are when a specific amount of work must be finished and ready for review.
Iteration/construction, the third stage, is when teams produce usable software based on specifications and ongoing input. Agile software development is based on iterations or individual development cycles. These build off each other to lead to the next stage of the development process. Iterations are usually between 2 and 4 weeks long, with an agreed-upon completion date. Finishing each iteration with a product that can be launched is important.
During the entire development cycle, multiple iterations are performed. Each one has its unique workflow. Iteration flows are typically composed of the following:
- Determining requirements using the sprint backlog, product backlog and feedback from customers and stakeholders;
- Software development based on requirements.
- Conducting QA automation testing services, training both internal and external and documentation.
- Delivering and integrating working products into production
- Gathering feedback from customers and stakeholders on an iteration to determine new requirements for the following sprint.
The release is the fourth stage, which involves the completion of QA tests, the resolution of remaining defects, the finalization of system documentation, and the release of final iterations into production.
The fifth stage, production, is the step that follows the initial release. It focuses on ongoing maintenance and support. The development team must maintain the smooth operation of software while teaching its users how to operate it. Production continues up until support ends or the product has been retired.
Retirement is the final phase, which includes all end-of-life-related activities, including notifying clients and migration. It is necessary to remove the system from production. It is done when the old system must be replaced with a new one or the older system has become outdated or unneeded.
The product backlog can have different features added throughout the Agile cycle. However, the process must be repeated until all items in the backlog are satisfied. The Agile cycle is more like a circular process than a linear one. A business may be working on many projects at once, with various revisions tracked for various product lines. It can also be a mix of customers, both internal and external.
Read More: Agile Software Development: Sprint Planning Best Practices
There are many types of Agile Methodologies
Agile methodologies are designed to adapt and embrace change while producing working software in the most efficient way possible. Each method differs in how it defines software development steps. Agile is most commonly used in the following methods:
- Scrum
- Lean software development
- Extreme Programming
- Crystal
- Kanban
- Dynamic systems development method
- Feature-driven development
Scrum is an Agile framework for project managers that allows them to manage all iterative or incremental projects. The product owner in Scrum creates a backlog of system features that they can prioritize with the team. This list includes all the tasks that need to be completed to create a working, successful software system. It also contains non-functional and bug-fix requirements. After the backlog has been defined, the team responsible can only implement any additional features.
After the team and product owner establishes the priorities, the cross-functional teams agree to deliver functional software increments within each sprint - often in less than 30 days. The product backlog will be reevaluated and prioritized after each sprint to determine the new deliverables for the following sprint. The Scrum method has grown in popularity because it's simple, productive, and can integrate the different overarching Agile practices.
Iterative methods such as lean software development are another way to deliver customer value. The method is dynamic and flexible, with no rigid rules or guidelines. Lean uses these primary principles as its foundation:
- Increased learning
- Empowering your team
- Promoting integrity
- Remove waste
- Understand the Whole
- Making decisions late is the best option
- Delivery of the product in the shortest time possible
Lean relies on fast, reliable customer feedback to programmers for a fast and efficient workflow. In order to achieve this, the Lean method gives individuals and small groups decision-making power instead of depending on a hierarchy of control. Lean asks that users only choose the most valuable features, prioritize them, and deliver these features in small batches to eliminate waste. The Lean method also promotes writing automated unit tests simultaneously with code. It focuses on making sure that every team member is productive.
The extreme programming (XP) method focuses on speed, continuous delivery and discipline. The XP method encourages increased involvement of customers, rapid feedback loops, continuous testing, and close teamwork. The software is released regularly, usually once every 1 to 3 weeks. Maintaining software responsiveness and quality is important when dealing with customer changes.
The XP methodology is based on simplicity, communication, and courage. The customer works closely with the development team to prioritize and define their user stories. The development team is responsible for providing the most important user stories as tested software at every iteration. The XP methodology provides users a lightweight, supportive framework to maximize their productivity. This helps them ensure high-quality software is released on time.
Crystal is a lightweight, adaptable method. The method focuses on the people involved in an Agile project and the business criticality and importance of the software under development. Crystal is based on the idea that each project has unique features that need a set of practices, policies and processes tailored to them. It is therefore composed of Agile models such as Crystal Orange and Crystal Yellow. Each model is unique and driven by factors such as project priorities, team size, or system criticality.
Like other Agile methods, Crystal emphasizes the frequent delivery of software that works with a high level of customer involvement. It also stresses adaptability, eliminating bureaucracy, and removing distractions. Communication, simplicity and teamwork are its key principles.
Kanban is a method of workflow management that emphasizes continuous delivery, allowing teams to manage their product development actively. This reduces stress during the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). This method has gained popularity amongst teams that also practice Lean Software Development.
Kanban is based on three principles: visualizing the workflow, limiting the work in progress, and improving the flow. The Kanban method, like Scrum, is intended to improve teamwork. The Kanban method encourages collaboration and determines the optimal workflow to create an environment that promotes active learning and continuous improvement.
The Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)is a solution to the industry's need for a common framework across industries for rapid software delivery. The DSDM relies on eight principles. Failure to adhere to any of these principles can lead to project failure. These are the eight key principles:
- Collaboration
- On-time delivery
- Control demonstration
- Continuous, clear communication
- Focus on business needs
- Iterative development
- Build up from solid foundations
- Quality is not compromised
The DSDM requires that all modifications be reversible and include rework. The MoSCoW Rules are used to prioritize system requirements. They rank them in the following order:
- M -- must have
- S -- should have
- C -- could have, but not critical
- W -- won't have now, but could have later
In DSDM, it's crucial to remember that not all requirements are critical. Each iteration must include less-critical items, which can be eliminated not to impact higher-priority requirements.
Feature-driven development (FDD) combines software engineering best practices -- including developing by feature and code ownership -- with a model-driven process that is short iterations. FFD starts by creating an overall shape for the model, from which a list of features is created. Iterations lasting two weeks are used to plan, design by feature and build by feature. It is recommended to break down a large feature into smaller ones if the build takes longer than two weeks. FDD's primary benefit is its scalability, even for large teams. It uses "just enough initial design," also known as JEDI.
Read More: Agile Methodology & its Importance in Software Development?
Agile: Advantages and Disadvantages
The Advantages of Agile
Agile methodologies have the following advantages:
User-focused: Agile identifies product features based on business criteria, which results in faster delivery. After each Sprint there is more room to explore new possibilities, which leads to better beta-testing opportunities and adaptability.
Improved Quality: The project must be broken down into smaller, manageable pieces. The team should focus on quality development, testing and collaboration.
Transparency is Key: Customers have the unique opportunity to participate in every project phase, ensuring the implementation at each stage.
Predictable Costs and Schedule: Costs are often determined by how much work is completed within a certain time frame. Customers need to know the cost estimate of every feature to help them make informed decisions.
Stakeholder Engagement: As per Agile, the project team and customer must work together to fully understand each other's vision.
Agile has its Disadvantages
Agile has many advantages, but it also has some disadvantages.
Insufficient Documentation: Insufficient consideration regarding documentation in Light-footed could be hard for new colleagues to get to the expected data. Subsequently, it turns out to be less point by point and much of the time falls in actuality.
Inadequate Resource Planning: You should conduct extensive research to determine which methodology will work best in every case. The team must have a solid foundation and the same ability level to satisfy the customer's needs.
A Fragmented Output: Agile projects are prone to failure due to an uncontrollable growth. The product is then dispersed, rather than represented as one cohesive unit.
Measurement is Difficult: Agile happens in pieces, tracking success is hard. It is difficult to measure progress in this way.
Inability to Estimate Time and Cost Accurately: Because of the constant change in needs, it's impossible to know exactly how much money or time is needed to complete the project. The result is an unfinished project.
What Distinguishes the Agile Approach from the Waterfall Technique?
Agile and Waterfall have become two of the most widely-used software development methods today. Waterfall is a software development method that is widely used. Waterfall is a development method that relies on careful planning and subsequent execution. Agile is an alternative Rapid Application Development style that uses Scrum and Kanban for implementation.
The Benefits of Agile phases for a Remote Team
Many software development teams use agile because it helps them better delegate and coordinate their work. This allows for more efficient development and better response to a project's rapidly changing needs and requirements.
It's therefore easy to understand why remote teams could benefit from using this method to produce products quicker. Agile can improve a team's flexibility by improving the communication and collaboration among team members. Implement communication tools and channels to reduce friction among team members to maximize these benefits.
The Right Developers can help you Build the Right Agile Team
Iterative processes are the hallmark of Agile. It helps the team to work with a more detailed approach and focus on providing working software as quickly as possible.
Agile is not a rigid structure which guarantees success. One thing is certain: software delivery is impossible without a good development team.
We're happy to say that we can help you build the most effective software using the right team. We are specialists at Cisin in understanding the needs of our clients and helping them find elite remote software engineers that meet (and even exceed) their expectations. Interested? Talk to our team today!
The Conclusion of the Article is:
Agile methods aren't the best solution for all projects. The best results are achieved when there's a close relationship between the client, developer and team. They offer a paradigm of iterative software development, where the work is broken down into multiple releases to achieve the goals set in each phase. We cisin a custom software development company ready to help you.
