Traditional Vs. Agile Software Development Methods

What is the difference between traditional vs. agile software development methods, and which should you choose for your project? This tutorial will guide you to choose the suitable approach for your software development project based on the comparison of traditional vs. agile software development models.

Over the last decade, agile software development models have taken over traditional software development models. In comparison to the traditional method which is a sequential development that flows steadily downwards through several phases, agile project management has proved to be a very efficient, practical, and flexible approach. In the constantly changing marketplace, the choice of software development models should be made based on the nature of the business and the objective of the project. 

If you still wonder whether an agile software development approach is right for your project, or what are the differences between traditional vs. agile software development, Newwave Solutions prepared this exclusive guide for you. Now, let’s get started!

1. Overview Of Traditional Software Development 

Traditional software development is a sequential development that flows steadily downwards through several phases, often used to design and develop simple software with minor security and functionality required. Traditional software development methodologies are based on pre-organized phases/stages of the software development life cycle: Analysis – Design – Implement – Coding & Testing – Maintenance. In each phase, there are specific deliverables and detailed documentation that have undergone a thorough review process.

This approach is suitable for projects with precise requirements which means project owners know exactly what they want and can confidently say that there won’t be any major changes in scope throughout the project development. However, with a project that requires constant development and modification, traditional development procedures might fail to achieve project goals. In the traditional software development approach, the entire set of requirements has to be given in the initial phase without changes in later phases which impact the final outcomes of the project. The disadvantages of this approach are cost, team effort, and time. 

2. Overview Of Agile Software Development 

Agile software development is a precise and customer-friendly approach that is used to design complicated software with a focus on flexibility and security. Throughout three phases of agile software development, namely Project initiation – Sprint planning – Demos, users have the opportunity to make modifications based on business context and changes in customer demand. It enhances mutual understanding among developer and user through evaluating solution modules to determine whether the business need is being met thus ensuring quality outcomes. 

In this approach, the project can be divided into different modules and can be delivered periodically. Agile proposes an incremental and iterative approach to development to increase cost and time efficiency. 

>>> Explore more: https://newwavesolution.com/blog/traditional-vs-agile-method/