Software development methodologies dictate the steps needed to design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain software. Using the right methodology that fits your business can mitigate issues, such as clients’ changing requirements, tight deadlines, and exceeding your budget, and ensure you finish your project efficiently and on time.
In this article, we’ll outline seven leading software development methodologies, their pros and cons, and how to choose the best one for your needs.
Table of Contents
What Is Software Development Methodology?
Software development methodology refers to a set of processes, practices, and principles guiding software development. It covers all aspects of software development, from initial planning and gathering of requirements to coding, testing, deployment, and long-term maintenance.
Having a methodology can improve project management by ensuring software development projects are completed on time, within budget, and more importantly, meet the end-users' needs. It also provides better quality control, teamwork efficiency, and stakeholder engagement.
Choosing the right one depends on various factors, such as your project’s scope and complexity, timeline, budget, and the development team's size.
7 Leading Software Development Methodologies
- Agile
- Waterfall
- Scrum
- Lean
- Rapid Application Development
- Feature-Driven Development
- Rational Unified Process
1. Agile Software Development
One of the most popular software development methods, Agile’s approach is based on evolutionary development, improvement through adaptive planning, and flexible responses to change. In this methodology, teams create and test software solutions over shorter time frames called “iterations,” each lasting between a week and a month.
Agile is a disciplined management process that focuses on the optimal delivery of individual parts rather than whole software. This gives room for alterations and adjustments while the project is underway and results in faster software releases with lower risks of bugs, cost overruns, and changing requirements.
Advantages:
- An adaptive approach that makes it easy to respond to a client’s changing requirements.
- Feedback and direct communication with stakeholders and development teams eliminate guesswork and minimize the risk of misunderstandings.
- Improved transparency between the client and the development team
- Mismatches between expectations and the actual product are quickly identified early on, making error detection easy
- Working software can be produced before the final stage.
Disadvantages:
- Focus on software and lack of documentation may cause functioning issues.
- Agile projects may go off track if the client is unclear about their objectives.
2. Waterfall Software Development
Another popular software development methodology is Waterfall. It is a strict, traditional, and linear software creation process — the opposite of Agile — that requires developers to complete the current stage or task before moving on. Stages gradually flow into one another, and developers do not return to the previous step to address changes in requirements.
This methodology has a life cycle that involves a strict sequence of completed tasks and simplifies the overall engineering process. It is best suited for smaller projects with well-defined requirements from the beginning.
Advantages:
- Simple, easy to understand, gradual, and analytical process
- Suitable for software development beginners
- The rigidity of the model makes it very manageable
- Each phase has an individual review process and specific deliverables
- Tasks are processed and completed at once, saving a lot of time
- Simple operation makes testing and analysis easier
Disadvantages:
- Precise requirements are needed upfront to make this method work
- Not suitable for maintenance or long projects
- The development cycle must reach the final stage to test and produce working software
- Once the software is in the testing phase, it is not possible to go back and make changes
3. Scrum Software Development
Scrum is a popular software development strategy because of its multi-faceted approach best suited for projects with rapidly changing requirements.
It begins with brief planning, then daily stand-up meetings (or scrums), during which progress is reviewed, and closes with a final review. This fast-paced software development process involves multiple work iterations (or sprints) to create the product.
Its greatest advantage over other development methodologies is that it effectively keeps slow-progressing projects on track. Scrum software development is designed for teams of three to nine members who can complete the project in two weeks.
Advantages:
- Development teams make all the decisions and work at their own pace.
- Outlining business requirements is not very important for the project’s success.
- A flexible method that can accommodate frequent changes and updates.
- The adaptive process speeds up software development.
- Individual productivity is measured in daily meetings, leading to better productivity.
Disadvantages:
- Not suitable for large projects
- Requires an experienced team with a broad skill set to work in proximity
- Projects need a lot of planning due to the division of phases into sprints
4. Lean Software Development
Lean is a flexible, strategically focused software development process that creates easily revisable solutions. It is ideal for projects with limited budgets and minimal requirements.
This methodology applies a solid conceptual framework to ensure developers keep to the established rules, minimizing programming efforts and defect rates.
Lean software development examines specifications to the most minute detail to minimize wasted time or money. Its core component is value for the client, making feedback and fast action crucial.
Advantages:
- Follows the core Agile Manifesto principle of “find good people and let them do their own jobs”
- Speedy process and reduced costs
- Developers can deliver more project features within a shorter period
- The development team has more decision-making freedom, empowering individuals and ensuring motivation
Disadvantages:
- A business analyst must make sure that project documentation is complete and accurate
- The success of the project depends on the team’s discipline and technical ability
- Additional training may be required
- Too much flexibility may result in poor focus that could compromise the project
5. Rapid Application Development
Rapid application development (RAD) involves quickly creating functional prototypes for continuous feedback. This software methodology prioritizes adaptability and continuous feedback instead of detailed planning in the early stages of the product.
Extensive software reuse and multiple iterations throughout the process lead to the final prototype’s speedy delivery. Low-code and no-code platforms are often leveraged for these projects.
RAD is best suited for software projects built around user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). It is becoming a very popular software development methodology as demand for software projects across industries increases exponentially year after year.
Advantages:
- Reduces risks of poor execution thanks to constant client feedback and early issue detection
- Multiple prototypes lead to a high-quality product
- Speedy development due to less planning and documentation
- Frequent feedback and clear communication ensure transparency between developers and stakeholders
Disadvantages:
- A relatively new and risky method
- Not suitable for small budget projects due to costs of modeling and automated code generation
- The fast-moving nature of this method requires an experienced team that works together for a lengthy period
6. Feature-Driven Development
Feature-driven development is a popular software development method for big teams working on project-oriented or object-oriented technology and organizations switching from stage-based to iterative approaches. It involves five simple processes: model development, feature list building, planning, design, and build by feature.
Feature-driven development combines several software development practices into one method. Its main objective is to center development processes around product features and deliver functioning iterations quickly.
Advantages:
- Delivers large projects that can scale
- Ensures structure and a good overview of the project through detailed documentation
- Built on set standards and industry-recognized best practices for software development
Disadvantages:
- Not suitable for smaller projects and teams due to its complexity
- Lead developers need to be highly trained and fully equipped because of various responsibilities
- This highly complex process needs to be monitored at each phase to avoid significant issues
7. Rational Unified Process
Rational Unified Process (RUP) is designed to achieve quick results by leveraging the best features of other methodologies, making it one of the most popular software development methods out there.
It divides the software development life cycle into four phases: inception, elaboration, construction, and transition. Each phase involves business modeling, analysis, design, implementation, testing, and deployment.
This adaptable process is object-oriented and allows developers to find suitable guidelines, templates, and examples for all stages of the project. Moreover, teams can tailor this framework according to their internal workflows.
With adjustable fast prototyping and iterations, developers get quick feedback and can eliminate errors on the go, ensuring optimal product outcomes.
Advantages:
- Prototyping and defining milestones lead to detailed feedback from clients
- Team members identify and resolve project risks associated with client’s changing requirements
- Scalable and suitable for any team or project of any size
- Reviews maintain project focus and ensure transparency
Disadvantages:
- Highly complex, potentially disjointed process that’s difficult to understand and requires a skilled team
- Continued testing and integration increase complexity, which may lead to other issues
- Project outlook depends almost entirely on team performance
Software Development Methodologies Compared
| Development Methodology | Pros | Cons |
| Agile |
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| Waterfall |
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| Scrum |
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| Lean |
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| Rapid Application Development |
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| Feature-Driven Development |
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| Rational Unified Process |
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How To Choose the Software Development Process That’s Right for You
An often overlooked and underestimated part of software development is choosing a methodology that best suits the project. Factors such as project cost, deadline, and software requirements determine how the software project will be executed and outline the path to successfully delivering the product.
The benefits of choosing the ideal software development methodology and project framework are as follows:
- Project costs remain constant
- Development teams adhere to the schedule and meet all deadlines
- Unrelated administrative discussions are eliminated from the workflow
- Teamwork and collaboration improve
- Developers meet client specifications and project requirements
- The risk of burnout is reduced
These five tips will help you choose the software development process suitable for your needs:
- Evaluate the Flexibility of Requirements
- Define The Software’s End-Users
- Be Aware of the Project Size
- Evaluate Your Development Time Frame
- Consider the Development Team’s Location
1. Evaluate the Flexibility of Requirements
Before choosing one among the many software engineering methodologies, consider the flexibility of your project.
The Agile approach is ideal for web and app development, in which the team will need to make frequent changes along the way. In contrast, waterfall is an excellent method for classic software development, in which predictability and stability are required in all phases.
2. Define the Software’s End-Users
If your project’s target audience is diverse, there will likely be a significant number of requests to include new features after launch. Agile and Scrum would be the most helpful for this scenario as you can edit your product at any phase.
If the software will likely maintain a fixed set of requirements in the long run, the Waterfall method is ideal.
3. Be Aware of the Project Size
Large and complex projects will require a more elaborate project management plan. The streamlined Waterfall methodology is best suited to meet intricate client requirements. Meanwhile, Agile and RAD are great for small to medium projects with evolving priorities. These methodologies ensure timely delivery and adherence to desired outcomes.
4. Evaluate Your Development Time Frame
If the time frame for software development is long-term and deadlines are flexible, the Waterfall methodology is the best choice. However, Agile and other iterative-based methodologies are the best choices for projects that require sprints due to limited timelines. These make the release of partially finished products possible.
5. Consider The Development Team’s Location
Accountability, coherence, and coordination are all very important if you’re working with an outsourced remote development team. In these scenarios, a rigid development method like Waterfall is best suited.
Agile, Feature-driven, and Rapid Application development methodologies require a lot of meetings and frequent discussions with teams that work closely together. They are better suited for software development teams working in one office or city.
Takeaways On Software Development Methodologies
It is important to choose the software development methodology that is right for your project before any work begins. Changing your methods down the road can be very difficult for your team and may lead to project delays and complications.
Software requirements and the scope of the project are two of the most critical factors that will determine the best method to use and help you find the software development team that’s right for you.
Software Development Methodologies FAQs
1. Which software development methodology should I use?
The software development methodology you should use depends on the size and complexity of the project, available resources, timeline, and the specific needs and requirements of the final product.
For example, if your project is relatively small and simple, consider using a simpler methodology such as Waterfall. However, you might need Agile if your project is more complex and requires a lot of flexibility and adaptability.
2. Why adhere to software development methodology?
Adhering to one software methodology can help ensure that projects are completed efficiently, with a high-quality product that meets the needs of stakeholders and end-users. It also improves collaboration and communication among team members, making project management more seamless.
