Agile methodologies refer to a group of software development approaches based on the principles of the Agile Manifesto, which emphasizes flexibility, iterative progress, collaboration, and customer satisfaction.
- Agile is a flexible and adaptive approach to software development that promotes continuous improvement and responsiveness to change.
- Instead of planning the entire project upfront, Agile divides the development process into small, manageable iterations or cycles, each delivering a functional portion of the software.
- This approach allows teams to incorporate feedback quickly and adapt to evolving requirements throughout the development process.
Key Principles of Agile:
- Delivering working software frequently – Agile encourages releasing functional parts of the product at regular intervals, often every few weeks, to provide value early and often.
- Adapting to changing requirements – Agile is built on the idea that customer needs and priorities can change. The methodology allows teams to embrace and adapt to changes, even late in development.
- Collaborating closely with customers and stakeholders – Agile emphasizes continuous communication between developers, users, and stakeholders to ensure the product aligns with business goals and user needs.
Popular Agile Methodologies:
1.) Scrum:
Scrum is an Agile framework that organizes work into time-boxed iterations called Sprints, usually lasting 1 to 4 weeks
- It includes roles like Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team.
- It focuses on delivering small, incremental updates to software in short cycles.
- It focuses on transparency, inspection, and adaptation throughout the development process.
2.) Kanban:
Kanban is an Agile methodology that emphasizes continuous delivery, visualizing work, and limiting work-in-progress (WIP) to improve efficiency and flow.
- It uses a Kanban board to track tasks from “To Do” to “Done,” helping teams identify bottlenecks and improve efficiency.
- Unlike Scrum, Kanban does not use sprints but supports continuous delivery.
3.) Extreme Programming (XP):
Extreme Programming (XP) is an Agile methodology focused on engineering practices, customer satisfaction, and frequent releases through high-quality code.
- It encourages close collaboration with the customer, consistent coding standards, and frequent feedback to ensure quality and functionality.
4.) Lean Framework:
Lean software development is an Agile methodology focused on eliminating waste, optimizing processes, delivering fast, and continuously improving.
- It removes anything that does not add value to the customer.
- It prevents errors early rather than fixing bugs later.
- It focuses on delivering small batches quickly and continuously.
- It improves the entire process, not just individual parts.
Advantages of Agile Methodologies:
- Highly adaptable: Agile supports changing requirements, making it ideal for dynamic and fast-paced environments.
- Promotes teamwork: Agile fosters collaboration among cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and customers.
- Delivers value early: By delivering working software in iterations, Agile ensures that usable features are available sooner.
- Encourages customer involvement: Continuous feedback from users helps shape the product effectively.
Disadvantages of Agile Methodologies:
- Requires active user involvement: Agile depends on frequent communication and feedback, which may not always be feasible for all stakeholders.
- May lack comprehensive documentation: Due to its focus on working software over documentation, Agile may result in insufficient records for maintenance and onboarding.
- Not ideal for fixed-scope or regulatory projects: Agile’s flexibility may conflict with projects that require strict adherence to predefined requirements or standards.
