Process
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​​What is Agile software development? Detailed overview

Written by
Łukasz Warchoł
Published on
October 24, 2022
TL;DR

What is Agile software development? Generally, it's a group of development methods based on iterative and incremental delivery designed to help teams deliver high-quality software products on time. What are the benefits, and why should you use Agile in software development?

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Łukasz Warchoł
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In other words, the Agile development methods involve breaking the project into small chunks and then delivering those chunks in short cycles or iterations. One of the most popular Agile development frameworks is Scrum. We'll explore Agile software development methodology and explain how it works with Scrum.

What is an Agile development methodology?

In software development, Agile is a set of methods and practices based on the values of incrementality, flexibility, teamwork, and customer collaboration.

The idea began in the early 1990s as an alternative to the traditional waterfall model. In this type of development, projects are completed in linear phases, with each step depending on the completion of the previous one. The goal is to complete all stages before release. Instead, Agile development is incremental and iterative, with new software versions being released more frequently.

Agile development is based on values and principles emphasizing customer collaboration, flexibility, and continual improvement. The most popular Agile methodology is Scrum, a framework for managing product development, while other Agile approaches include Kanban and Extreme Programming (XP).

The key benefits of Agile development include early and frequent delivery of working software, better communication between customers and developers, greater flexibility to changes in requirements, and improved team morale. While some challenges are associated with Agile development, such as the need for disciplined team members and adequate technical infrastructure, these can be overcome with proper planning and execution.

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Agile software development with Scrum

Scrum is a specific process that outlines how developers can work together to create a high-quality product in a short amount of time.

The Scrum process

The Scrum process consists of three roles, five events, and three artifacts. The three roles are the Scrum master, the product owner, and the development team. The Scrum master is responsible for keeping the project on track and ensuring everyone follows the Scrum process. The product owner is responsible for setting the vision for the product and determining what features to include. And the development team is responsible for actually building the product.

The five events are sprint planning, the daily Scrum, sprint review, sprint retrospective, and backlog refinement. The first event is a meeting where the product owner and development team come together to determine what they can realistically accomplish in the upcoming sprint. Next, the daily Scrum is a short meeting where everyone on the development team reports on their progress from the previous day and sets goals for the current day.

A sprint review is a meeting where the development team presents what they have accomplished during the sprint to the product owner and any other stakeholders. A sprint retrospective is a meeting where everyone on the team reflects on what went well during the sprint and what could be improved. Finally, backlog refinement is a meeting where the product owner and development team add new items to the backlog or modify existing objects.

Lastly, the three artifacts are the sprint backlog, the product backlog, and the product increment. The first is a list of tasks that must be completed during the current sprint. The product backlog lists all the jobs that need to be completed to develop the product. Ultimatelly, a product increment results from your hard work and dedication in one go. You get to take what you've built up until now all at once, with everything integrated for testing or deployment.

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Scrum vs. other Agile approaches

Scrum is just one of many different Agile approaches used in software development. While they share some similarities, there are also some key differences. For example, Scrum teams are self-organizing, whereas, in other Agile approaches such as Kanban, someone outside the group – such as a project manager, organizes the teams.

Additionally, in Scrum, each sprint has a fixed duration, whereas, in Kanban, there is no set timeframe for completing tasks; instead, tasks are completed as soon as they are finished. Finally, while Scrum has fixed roles such as Scrum master and product owner, in Kanban, these roles may be rotated depending on who has expertise in specific areas or has more capacity at any given time.

Agile model in software engineering

The Agile model in software engineering is a process that helps developers to create high-quality software products with reduced risks. It was first introduced in the early 2000s and has become one of the most popular development methodologies. The Agile model in software engineering emphasizes iterative and incremental development, which allows for changes and modifications to be made quickly as the project progresses.

The Agile model in software engineering also puts a strong emphasis on communication and collaboration between developers, customers, and stakeholders. This approach ensures that everyone knows the project's goals and progress, identifies potential problems and resolves them quickly. As a result, the Agile model in software engineering can help create better-quality software products in a shorter time.

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Agile development in software engineering

Agile development is the most popular software engineering methodology. It allows for rapid changes and adaptations to the project's needs. It also helps keep the project on track and allows for frequent changes and stakeholders' feedback. The Agile methodology is based on sprints, which are time-boxed periods in which teams must complete specific tasks. At the end of each sprint, the team should present a working product to stakeholders.

Benefits of Agile Development

1. Increased customer satisfaction

One of the primary benefits of Agile development is that it leads to increased customer satisfaction. It's because Agile development focuses on delivering working software to customers as quickly as possible rather than waiting until the end of the project to deliver a finished product. As a result, customers can provide feedback on the software early on, which helps to ensure that the final product meets their needs and expectations.

2. Reduced costs

Agile development can also help to reduce costs associated with software development projects. This is because Agile development teams only work on a tiny part of the project simultaneously rather than trying to complete the entire project all at once. In addition, it means that if there are any problems with the assignment, developers can fix them early on before they have a chance to cause significant delays or increase costs.

3. Increased efficiency

Another benefit of Agile development is that it leads to increased efficiency among development teams. This is because Agile teams are self-organizing and self-managing, which means they can work more independently and make decisions more quickly than traditional teams. Additionally, Agile teams typically use shorter sprints or periods in which they work on a particular part of the project, which helps to keep them focused and on track.

4. Improved quality

Agile development can also lead to improved quality in software products. This is because Agile teams focus on delivering working software quickly rather than trying to perfect the product before it is released. This means that bugs and other issues are found and fixed early on before they have a chance to cause significant problems. Additionally, Agile teams typically conduct regular code reviews and testing throughout the development process, which helps to ensure that the final product is of high quality.

5. Greater flexibility

Agile development is also much more flexible than traditional software development methods because Agile teams can adapt their plans based on customer feedback, technological changes, or market conditions. Additionally, Agile teams can easily add or remove team members as needed, which helps keep projects moving forward even if staffing changes occur.

6. Improved communication

Agile development also leads to improved communication among team members and between the team and stakeholders. This is because Agile teams typically use daily stand-up meetings in which team members share what they did the previous day and what they plan to do today. It helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and aware of what needs to be done. Additionally, Agile teams typically use collaborative tools such as chat rooms and wikis, which help to facilitate communication and collaboration among team members.

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Agile software development. Summary

The Agile model is a software engineering methodology designed to help teams deliver high-quality software products on time. It is based on the principle of iterative and incremental development, which means that teams work on small pieces of the product simultaneously and then gradually build up the product incrementally.

A key thing to remember is that it allows teams to adapt to changes and feedback as they go, which helps ensure that the final product is of high quality. The Agile model is popular among software developers because it allows them to be more flexible and responsive to changes, which can be crucial in fast-paced industries like technology.

So whether you need minor assistance with the trickiest parts of your project or a fully-fledged Agile team to guide you through the entire journey, we’ve got all the experts you'll need – ready to take you to the next level. Get in touch!

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