What is an agile model?

The Agile model is a modern process of software development with a combination of iterative and incremental processes focused on customer satisfaction through the rapid delivery of products. This method implements incremental builds by dividing the product into small, manageable builds. These builds are provided in iterations. Typically, an iteration lasts from one to three weeks.

Every iteration involves various areas, such as −

• Planning
• Requirements Analysis
• Design
• Coding
• Quality Assurance
• Launching/Deployment

In Agile, tasks are divided into time boxes (small-time frames) in order to deliver features for a release. An iterative approach is taken, and a working software build is delivered after each iteration. Each build contains only the features required by the customer; the final build contains all the features.

The following are the Agile Manifesto principles: −

1. Interactions
Agile development places high importance on interaction between the client and the team.

2. Working software
Documents cannot replace actual understanding of the requirements and needs of the project. At this time, we consider demo software to be the best means of communication.

3. Customer collaboration
Continuous interaction with the customer is essential for obtaining the correct product requirements.

4. Responding to change
Agile development focuses on delivering quick responses to change and consistent development.

How do we use the agile model?

1. Project planning.

2. Product roadmap.

3. Release planning.

4. Sprint planning.

5. Daily stand-ups.

6. Sprint review and retrospective.

Agile Vs Traditional SDLC Models

Agile software development is based on adaptive methods, whereas the traditional waterfall model is based on predictive methods. In the traditional Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) model, predictive teams usually work with detailed planning and have a complete forecast of the exact tasks and features to be delivered in the following months or during the product’s life cycle.

Predictive methods depend entirely on the requirement analysis and planning done at the beginning of the development cycle. Any changes to be incorporated are subject to strict change control management and prioritization.

Agile, on the other hand, uses an adaptive approach, where there is no detailed planning. There are only features that need to be developed. The team follows a feature-driven development approach and is able to adapt to changing product requirements dynamically. The product is thoroughly tested throughout the release iterations, minimizing the risk of any major failures in the future.

Customer interaction is at the heart of this Agile methodology, and open communication with minimal documentation are typical features of an Agile development environment. The teams are located in the same geographical location and work in close collaboration.

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Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Realistic approach to software development.

2. Promotes teamwork and training.

3. Functionality can be developed rapidly.

4. Resource requirements are minimum.

5. Suitable for fixed or changing requirements

6. Delivers early partial working solutions.

7. Documentation is easily employed.

8. No planning is required.

9. Easy to manage.

10. Gives flexibility to developers.

Cons:

1. Not suitable for handling complex dependencies.

2. There is a greater risk of sustainability, maintainability, and extensibility.

3. Strict delivery management functionality must be delivered, and adjustments must be made to meet the deadlines.

4. Depends heavily on customer interaction

5. Since there is minimum documentation generated, there is a very high individual dependency.

6. Transfer of technology to new team members may be quite challenging due to a lack of documentation.

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