Agile software development – An approach building momentum

The biggest challenge software developers face today is speed. A constantly changing environment necessitates quick reactions from developers. Therefore, the method used by the developer team during their work makes a big difference. The Agile software development method provides an answer exactly to the issue of speed. Let’s see how!

The agile approach can be applied in many different fields. What they have in common is that the goals are clear and unambiguous for everyone, and the activities within the company serve to achieve their goals in the most effective way possible.

What is agile software development?

An approach built on various methods and techniques, which it applies to a particular set of rules. It divides complex and long processes into smaller cycles, and in each development cycle, the product’s functionality progressively becomes more complex. Thus the software evolves as the process progresses.

The principles

The principles of agile software development are summarized in the Agile Manifesto. These include the following:

• The satisfied client comes first, which can be achieved by delivering the functioning software as fast as possible.
• Changes are part of the process, even in the final stages. These should be converted into a competitive advantage.
• The software should be delivered to the client as often as possible, weekly or monthly.
• Success depends on the individuals. This requires appropriate conditions, support and trust.
• Information sharing can be done most efficiently via personal conversations.
• The indicator of the progress of the process is functional software.
• The goal is sustainable development, and to set a pace of development that can be maintained by every actor.
• Agility can be brought to a higher level by following plans and keeping technical quality in mind.
• The amount of work not done should be maximized.
• Teams that are capable of self-organization put together higher quality architectures and plans.
• The main focus is on efficiency, so from time to time, the processes are examined by the team who, if necessary, will make appropriate changes to be more efficient.

One idea, multiple methods

Agile software development is an approach, which can be put into practice in multiple ways depending on the specifics of a situation. Let us present a few frameworks that are built on the agile ideas!

Scrum

Scrum enables efficient product development, even in a quickly changing environment. The most important elements of the framework are the actors, who fill various roles. There is the Product Owner, who represents the client, the Developer Team, who perform the development, and the Scrum Master, who facilitates the enforcement of the Scrum methodology. During the development, various events can be defined, such as the meetings that play a very important role (e.g. Daily Scrum), and there also are working materials that aid the development, which include, for example, the Product Backlog, which is a list prepared by the Product Owner about what the product must be capable of.

The advantage of Scrum is that it is easy to understand, as it is simple and logical. It is centered around the needs of the client, and in addition, everything is subordinated to efficiency. It is important that it facilitates communication via frequent meetings, which also helps bring the team together. However, its disadvantage is that it is easy to master up to a certain level, but it is very difficult to practice professionally.

Lean

Lean software development is centered around simplification and efficiency. It requires the implementation of goals such as minimizing waste, helping to learn, and coming up with a solution as early and as quickly as possible. A feature of Lean is that it empowers people, strongly focuses on project integrity, to which it has a complex approach.

Kanban

Just like Lean, Kanban conquered the world starting with Japan. Among other things, its goals include minimizing inventory, prioritizing client needs, and continuously developing. The Kanban methodology is based on cards that are able to reduce the amount of work at a given phase. There are no time frames in this methodology, you think in broader terms than within Scrum. It is centered around tasks, not deadlines.

The Kanban table shows the progress of the process, which consists of the following elements: goals, queue, elaboration and acceptance, development, test, deployment, done. Only a specified number of tasks can enter each phase – this is how to maintain focus and order within the team. The number of tasks is typically determined by the team size.

Its advantage is that by reducing the number of tasks performed in tandem, the time required for performance can be reduced. If sufficient experience has been gathered, the number of working hours that make up each phase can be determined on average. By visualizing the progress of the project and restricting the amount of tasks performed at one time, efficiency and client satisfaction can be improved.

Extreme Programming

Extreme Programming (XP) is a flexible, quality-driven development framework. It defines five values:

• communication (the appropriate amount and quality of communication),
• simplicity (by avoiding waste, to choose the solution that provides the simplest and best result),
• feedback (owing to continuous feedback, the points that require further improvement can be identified),
• courage (this can be defined in that the team member dares to make a step and change their actions when required),
• respect (the team members must turn to each other with respect).

Various practices, for example the Planning Game, Simple Design, Testing, Pair Programming, Continuous Integration, or the 40 Hour Week are important elements of it. You can read about these in more detail at the website of Ron Jeffries, who is one of the founders of XP!

Agile software development is abundant in possibilities. In addition to the methodologies and frameworks described above, it also includes the Crystal method, the Dynamic System Development Method and the Feature-Driven Development.

Advantages

Repetition, repetition

This type of software development is iterative, meaning that it always expands the range of existing functions of the software during development rounds and, if necessary, corrects previous bugs. As a result, specification, design, development, and testing are not separated in time. Thanks to continuous repetitions, a product of better and higher quality can be created.

It adapts to your needs

Since clients can receive software relatively soon, there is also an opportunity for users to provide feedback. Based on this, the program can be tailored even more to the needs of the target audience, which increases satisfaction and the success of the project.

Quick

Thanks to the agile approaches, a software version that is usable and available can be delivered early. This is a version of the planned product, which evolves continuously in the future. For example, it initially contains a only one function, and over time it expands with other useful uses.

The duration of the development otherwise depends on how complex the project itself is. After assessing this, a plan can be prepared, a plan can be made based on the number of team members and the required development hours.

Cost-effective

This approach is based on efficiency, which is also true for costs. From a business perspective, a lot of money and time can be saved by completing only the functions for which there is actual demand. Not to mention that marketing costs can also be reduced by engaging consumers at an early stage, making them committed

Agile software development is very forward-looking, and this has been recognized by many when we consider its growing popularity. Errors can be easily reduced due to the nature of the approach, as it builds a large piece of software into smaller parts.. This contributes to both client and user satisfaction.

The confidence placed by the client in the development team is an important momentum of software development. It is not easy to gain and maintain this, but these methodologies facilitate its formation via continuous communication. We at SynerinSoft put particular emphasis on nurturing client relationships, fully incorporating their needs. Contact our colleagues if you have any questions about software development! https://synerinsoft.com/en/services/development/