Software Creation Methodologies: Custom software development enables businesses to establish a systematic approach to managing projects from initiation to completion. Companies are intrigued by the potential of tailor-made applications to assist them in achieving their objectives. Furthermore, bespoke software provides several other benefits apart from its primary advantages.
- Scalability
- Significant Transformation
- Flexibility to make limitless modifications and employ distinctive features
- Efficient Time Management
Incorporating a robust software development methodology can help companies steer clear of common obstacles faced by less experienced projects. This methodology strives to minimise chaos, ineffectiveness and the risk of failing to meet deadlines.
While choosing the appropriate methodology, companies should consider pertinent organisational, technical and project-related factors. If a business requires releasing its internal resources for other endeavours, they can opt for developing software in-house or engaging an external software development team.
Agile, although a widely adopted software development methodology for several years, is not the only viable option. Other approaches like waterfall, v-shaped, dynamic systems and prototyping can also be employed to deliver effective software.
Popular Software Development Methodologies Among Large Corporations
“Waterfall” Methodology
The Waterfall Model was created during the 1970s and 1980s, and continues to be highly considered as the ideal method for software development. This sequential process can be divided into several stages, which allows for cost and time reduction through meticulous planning and investigation. However, if the project is inadequately specified at the outset, there is a possibility that huge portions of code might require replacement.
The Waterfall Approach comprises of five stages:
Hardware and Software Prerequisites
Gathering requisite hardware and software demands approximately 40% of the total project duration. The management in charge of the project chooses suitable metrics to determine the project’s success.Design
Upon determining the software and system requirements, the design process should be initiated. Designers will create a logical infrastructure for the system at this stage.Development and Coding
As we proceed to this initial phase, the software starts taking its form. To guarantee that the final outcome meets the expectations of Enterprise, regular evaluation of design decisions must be conducted throughout the project’s development process.Testing
The functional aspects of the software modules are thoroughly tested to verify full functionality after the completion of both development and implementation. Each component must comply with the standards specified in the preceding stages. The foundation of building a dependable and credible software begins with efficient unit testing.Implementation and Deployment
The software has been developed and tested thoroughly and is now prepared for distribution. Development teams are committed to frequently release updates and security patches for their products.
Agile Methodologies
Since it was introduced in 2001, Agile has emerged as the prevalent approach for software development. Its uniqueness lies in its iterative process, which permits rapid development while upholding quality standards. Agile has been incorporated into other frameworks and management techniques such as Scrum and Kanban. This methodology emphasizes on the promptness of launching the product to the market, customer feedback, and efficient software development.
The Agile methodology is built upon the principle that developing the product in frequent, concise cycles results in the most favourable outcomes. An Agile team is capable of promptly responding to new requests and priorities. For this, conducting daily stand-ups is highly advisable. A daily stand-up, also known as a daily scrum, is a brief meeting where the team reports their current tasks, the progress made, and any obstacles encountered.
The Agile software development life cycle consists of the following six stages:
Concept
A business outlines its targets and objectives in reference to the primary scope and concept of the project, while the development team provides estimates for both time and cost.Inception
In this phase of the process, the groundwork for the project is predominantly established. The project manager identifies the necessary skills and workforce to execute the project. A chart can be used to provide additional information regarding the sprint goals and individual team member responsibilities.Iteration
Iteration is a fundamental aspect of the design process. The software development team commences their tasks and coding work right away. At this stage, all the key elements of the typical software development process are involved.- Development
- Testing
- Delivery
- Feedback
- Release
Repetition
Iteration is a cyclic process that is repeated until the desired outcome is achieved. Afterward, the team conducts a thorough final testing process and quality assurance to ensure no further issues are present. As part of the release process, we furnish all the necessary instructions for the end-users.Production
The development team ensures customer satisfaction by closely monitoring the code and offering timely assistance. We pledge to provide this level of service throughout the entire lifecycle of the app.Retirement
There is potential for changes to the underlying technology infrastructure to affect this. More often than not, enterprise software development does not result in complete retirements as companies frequently choose to modify existing software rather than discard it.
The “V-Shaped” Model
The V-Shaped Model is similar to the Waterfall approach. Instead of following a linear progression, it is separated into two stages: verification and validation. These stages form the two arms of the “V” shape, with “Implementation” joining them at its base. Following the completion of the verification stages, the development life cycle moves on to the implementation and validation phases.
Verification Methods
- The Project Manager will create a detailed list of all the system requirements required for the program. The executives will then be provided with the opportunity to review this information and provide any necessary recommendations.
- The primary objective of the System Design phase is to produce a System Specification Document that outlines any hardware, software, or infrastructure requirements necessary. Developers will then determine the most suitable approaches to meet the program specifications. This stage is also where crucial factors such as the system’s architecture, menu structure, data structure, and backend architecture are established.
- The team is presently involved in planning the program’s architectural design and specifying the features and components and their respective roles. As we have not yet started coding, we are in the initial stages of the planning process.
- The architecture design breaks down each feature into smaller parts or modules that can be coded independently.
Implementation
- Coding involves converting the plans and specifications from requirement analysis, system design, architecture design, and module design into a functional program. Programmers typically work from the bottom up, beginning with the most fundamental modules and then combining them to create the larger system.
Validation
- Unit testing entails composing tests for individual modules during the development phase. By executing the code, any errors or other problems may be discovered. The purpose of a unit test is to demonstrate that each individual piece of code can perform its intended function without relying on other parts of the program.
- It is apparent that successful software development is impossible without collaboration between the various components. If integration testing fails, it indicates that the units are not working together.
- Application testing is conducted by both developers and senior management during system testing. At this phase, getting extensive feedback from internal users and focus groups is normal. Performance, stress, regression, and load testing are the four primary categories that comprise system testing.
- The V-shaped methodology acknowledges the significance of testing with actual users. To ensure that the program is appropriate for use, the company carries out acceptance testing.
Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)
Initially devised as a software engineering process, DSDM’s usage has extended to project management. Unlike other methods, DSDM takes into account time and budget constraints from the beginning.
At the beginning of the development process, it’s crucial for businesses to establish their priorities. The software requirements are divided into “must-haves,” “should-haves,” “could-haves,” and “won’t-haves” to allow the development team to make any necessary changes to stay on track. If the team is falling behind schedule, they will prioritize “must-haves” over “could-haves”; however, if they are ahead, they will focus on the latter.
In DSDM, regular and transparent communication, as well as collaborative problem-solving throughout the software implementation stages, are highly emphasized.
Methods for Creating Prototypes
The Prototype Methodology distinguishes itself from other approaches by its methodology. Prototyping’s goal is to assess an idea by creating an early operational version. Prototypes enable developers to determine what works and what doesn’t, providing them with the flexibility to prioritize certain aspects of the project.
If a company is uncertain about which type of software would be the most appropriate for their requirements, prototyping could be an effective method to determine this. An initial prototype can be viewed and interacted with, allowing for valuable feedback. The development team can then use this feedback to improve the prototype. With each new iteration, presentations of the prototypes should be made to upper management.
This method is not advisable as it may result in longer production times. Developers may encounter problems if they do not first clearly define the concept and requirements. While the program may perform its intended functions, its architecture and system design may be unsatisfactory.
Which Choice is Optimal?
The project managers, development team, and enterprise executives must thoroughly evaluate the pros and cons of each approach. Agile methodology has gained popularity due to its effectiveness and suitability. Each method, including Waterfall, V-Shaped, DSDM, and Prototype, is effective and successful when applied appropriately to the intended custom software.
