Agile Model In Software Engineering

Agile model is a popular model model used these days in companies for project making. As the 21st century approached, organizations needed to re-evaluate their processes and make them more efficient. One model that gained popularity in the early 2000s was Agile Development. Lets try to know about it in this article. 

It gave the developers flexibility and control in producing software while reducing project duration and cost. However, this isn’t a model that suits everyone’s working style. Therefore, it’s essential to understand what agile development is and how it can benefit you.

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Table of Contents (TOC)

• What is Agile software development? 
• Real-life project example-Agile model
• Why the agile model?
• Advantages of Agile model 
• Disadvantages of agile model
• Difference between waterfall model and agile model
• Conclusion

What is Agile software development? 

Agile software development methodologies are one of the simplest and most effective processes for translating a vision for a business need into a software solution. Agile is a term used to describe software development approaches that include continuous planning, learning, improvement, team collaboration, evolutionary development, and early deployment. Promote flexible responses to change.

Multi-project agile development uses several projects simultaneously to speed up the process. This approach is quicker because it reduces the planning time for each project. Instead of starting from scratch each time, you build on the work of previous projects. This saves time and resources while providing a quality result. However, this method requires a good knowledge of multi-thread programming to work effectively.

In this fig, we can see that the phases of project development are:

1. Planning
2. Design
3. Development/Implementation
4. Testing
5. Deploy
6. Reviews from customer

After taking the feedback from the customer, these phases are implemented again, and then again, the feedback is taken from the customer, and the phases are repeated. This happens until the customer is satisfied or accepts the final project.

Also read: What Does A Software Engineer Do? Roles, Responsibilities, and Skills

Also read: A Day in Life of a Software Engineer – An Interview Log

Real-life project example-Agile model

If you want to build a house, you will be clear with the essential requirements like the number of rooms, bathrooms, area you want for a porch, etc. But you don’t know what woodwork you need, which coloured door you need, and how many windows you want. When you enter the house-building process, you become more precise with your requirements and suggest an architect accordingly. The architect keeps on getting requirement feedback from you and accordingly works. In the same way, the agile model works. The customer, in the starting, will tell the basic requirements. Based on this, he will receive a working sample and keep on suggesting new requirements and changes, which will be incorporated into every iteration of development and testing throughout the software development life cycle of the project.

Why the Agile model?

• The agile model is a modern approach to project management that focuses on understanding customer needs and maintaining transparency throughout every stage of the development process.
• Agile allows for quick responses to changes in customer needs and quick adaptation to internal changes.
• It effectively helps teams deliver better products with fewer bugs by balancing speed and quality.
• Agile methods have become popular due to their flexibility and suitability for project management in volatile industries such as technology or finance.
• Agile methods improve internal processes and customer satisfaction by fostering strong relationships within teams and with customers.
• Essentially, it encourages employees to work together towards common goals towards success in every project they complete.

Advantages of Agile model 

1. Efficiency

By using multiple approaches simultaneously, you save time and resources. Plus, this model is more effective in overcoming resistance to changes. Since each change occurs in different projects simultaneously, implementing new ideas is much easier than with a single project approach.

2. Adaptability

This model is configured to respond to changing situations quickly and effectively. In contrast, long-term planning approaches require additional adapt lead times since it’s done after the plans are made.

3. Quick

If a new system needs to be built for an upcoming event, an agile team can quickly respond with minimal planning time. They can quickly adapt by changing code or adding new features to suit the occasion. In contrast, long-term planning approaches require additional adapt lead times since it’s done after the plans are made.

4. Stakeholders have an idea about the project’s progress and work.

After each iteration, project customers and stakeholders have a complete picture of the updated software developed according to an agile model. In this way, all changes in the system can be addressed in each iteration.

Disadvantages of agile model

1. Limited documentation

In Agile, documentation happens throughout the project, often in time to create the output rather than at the beginning. This leaves less detail and is often delayed.

2. Bugs and lower quality results

It can be challenging for developers to resist taking shortcuts while rushing towards their goal, leading to many bugs and lower quality results.

Difference between waterfall model and agile model

Conclusion

As technology expands daily, so does the need for efficient software creation methods- specifically for software development. Agile development expands the possibilities for developers and end users by allowing for multiple projects and adaptability. While it won’t suit everyone, agile development is an excellent way for organizations to meet their software creation goals.