What is Agile SDLC? (Phases, Methodologies, and Disadvantages)

You may have heard of agile software, but what is it?

Agile SDLC is a newer, more flexible way of developing software. It’s an alternative to the traditional waterfall model, which can be inflexible and lead to missed deadlines and budget overruns.

This blog post will discuss the definition of Agile SDLC, its phases, disadvantages, methodologies, and reasons for popularity. The post also compares the agile model with the waterfall model.

Definition

Agile software development is a process that allows for incremental and iterative changes to the software.

The agile SDLC is a framework that allows for these gradual changes and emphasizes close collaboration between developers and consumers throughout the software development process.

This close collaboration will enable customers to give feedback early and often, which helps ensure that the software meets their needs.

Why is Agile becoming a more popular model?

• It’s more effective than the traditional waterfall model in delivering software that meets customer needs.
• It’s more responsive to change, which makes it well-suited for today’s fast-paced, ever-changing business environment.
• It allows teams to be self-organizing and self-managing, which fosters creativity and empowerment.
• It’s been shown to improve productivity and decrease costs.

What are the Agile SDLC phases involved in the process?

• Planning: In the planning stage, the team creates a roadmap for the project. This roadmap outlines the goals, objectives, and timeline for the project.
• Requirement gathering: The team gathers data about the customer’s requirements in the analysis stage. This information determines the software’s features and how it should work.
• Design: In the design stage, the team creates a software prototype. This prototype tests the design’s feasibility and gathers customer feedback.
• Development or coding: The developers review and break down requirements into smaller tasks that can be completed efficiently and quickly. In the development stage, the team writes the code for the software.
• Testing: The software is tested in the testing stage to ensure that it meets the customer’s requirements. If the team finds bugs, they fix them.
• Implementation: The software is ready for implementation once it passes the testing stage. The team helps the customer install and use the software in this stage.
• Maintenance: The team provides maintenance and support after the software is up and running. That also makes sure that the software is updated as needed.

Agile model vs waterfall model

The agile model is becoming the preferred model for software development as it is more effective and responsive to change than the traditional waterfall model.

Agile SDLC model	Waterfall model
It is iterative; This takes small steps and changes along the way based on customer feedback.	The waterfall model is linear, which means that the waterfall model progresses straight.
It embraces change.	It doesn’t allow for change.
Allows multiple jobs to be completed simultaneously.	Focuses on completing tasks one at a time.
Allows for needs to emerge during the development process.	The waterfall model requires all requirements to be known upfront.
It allows for overlap and parallelism between phases.	It is based on sequential phases.

Agile SDLC Best practices

1. Customer involvement: Customers should be involved throughout the agile SDLC process to meet their needs.
2. Self-organizing teams: Teams should be self-organizing, so they can make decisions and solve problems quickly.
3. Incremental delivery: Agile model focuses on incremental small development sprints, allowing for more customer feedback and a better final product.
4. Working software: Agile aims to produce software that meets customer needs rather than focusing on documentation or other deliverables.
5. Continuous improvement: Agile teams should constantly look for ways to improve their process and the software they deliver.

Agile SDLC methodologies

Scrum

It involves short development sprints (usually two weeks) during which a team works to complete a set amount of work.

After finishing each sprint, the team shows the completed work to the customer and gathers feedback. This feedback is then used to guide future sprints. 

Kanban

It helps teams visualize their work, so they can see what needs to be done and who is working on what tasks. This transparency can help teams manage their workflow and improve their process over time.

Lean

Focuses on eliminating waste and reducing unnecessary work. In software development, this means creating a lean process that delivers value to the customer quickly and efficiently.

XP (Extreme Programming)

XP is a method that focuses on delivering working software early and often. XP teams work in short development cycles (usually two weeks) and aim to release new software weekly.

FDD (Feature-Driven Development)

This methodology focuses on delivering software in short development cycles (usually two weeks). FDD(Feature-driven development) teams work to break down requirements into smaller tasks that can be completed efficiently and quickly.

DSDM (Dynamic Systems Development Method)

It is an agile methodology that focuses on delivering working software quickly. DSDM teams work in short development cycles and use a timeboxing approach to ensure that each sprint is completed on time.

Crystal

This a family of agile methodologies that deliver software based on customer needs. Crystal Clear, for example, is a methodology that focuses on transparency and communication to ensure that the customer’s needs are met.

Which methodology is suitable for your team?

The answer to this question depends on your team’s specific needs and goals. For example, if you’re looking for a methodology that focuses on delivering working software quickly, then XP or DSDM might be a good choice.

If you’re looking for a methodology that involves the customer in the development process, then Scrum or FDD might be a better option. But in the end, it’s up to your team to decide which methodology will work best for you.

Disadvantages

• They can be challenging to manage and control. Agile teams are self-organizing, which means they make their own decisions about how to complete tasks. That can lead to problems if team members do not communicate well or if they do not have the same goals in mind.
• They often require more time and effort upfront. That is because agile teams need to spend time planning and preparing for each sprint. That cannot be easy if team members are not experienced with agile methods.
• Agile methods can be disruptive to businesses that are used to traditional waterfall development. That is because agile teams work in short sprints and deliver software frequently. That can disrupt enterprises that are used to longer development cycles and less frequent releases.
• Agility can potentially introduce more risk into the project. That is because there is less of a well-defined path to follow and more reliance on the team to develop creative solutions. That could cause further problems if not appropriately managed.

Conclusion

Agile SDLC is a family of software development methodologies that focuses on delivering working software quickly, and they are a popular choice for modern software development. However, while agile methods have many benefits, they also have disadvantages.

There are many different agile methodologies, each with its strengths and weaknesses. It’s up to your team to decide which method will work best for you.