Agile methodology is a kind of strategy for software development in which the entire development of product is divided in to various small development cycles known as iterations. Every iteration has fixed time period in which pre-defined functionalities are need to be developed and tested. And on completion of each iteration, product with all new functionalities is released.
Process flow of Agile methodology :
Concept : The project is decided by identifying workable projects, prioritizing projects, visioning about project in total and its feasibility.
Inception : After making decision of the potential project, stakeholders are identified, dedicated team is selected, requirements are analyzed and prioritized, environments are set up as per requirements, architectural design is created.
Iteration : Development gets started and based on the type of agile methodology and time period of iteration cycle, developers delivers the working software at the end of each iteration. This cycle goes on till the last iteration cycle.
Release : The working software is tested, users are trained, relevant documents are developed and then that iteration is released.
Production : After the use of product, feedbacks are welcomed form client and users. And based on their reviews, system is debugged and new features are identified that need to be added.
Retirement : Final version is released after enhancements and defects identified during production and users are migrated.
How iteration cycle works?
Depending on the entire requirements, project is first divided in to small development phases known as iterations(e.g 10 iteration cycle) and to each iteration, specific time period is fixed( e.g 3 weeks).
Then, requirements are analyzed and prioritized. High priority functionalities are then assigned to developers for the development in the first iteration cycle. Rest features can be added to the product in the subsequent iteration cycle.
Developers, then develop and deliver working software with defined functionalities at the end of first iteration cycle.
If any features are not delivered in the current iteration, then it will be taken along with others functionalities in to second iteration.
It is then tested by QA and first version of product is released.
On release, feedbacks from clients and users are studied and again requirements are analyzed and prioritized between new features and pre-defined features for second iteration cycle.
And thus second iteration starts and end in the same way. This cycle goes on till 10 iteration cycles and thus 10 versions of products are released.
In this way, changes and functionalities are added incrementally and thus the product developed keeps on evolving with each iterations.
Benefits of Agile
It is versatile and effective approach as changes can be made easily at any stage of development.
Since design, development and testing all take place simultaneously, problems encountered can be solved at an early stage itself.
Clients can track the progress and success of their products at each iteration cycle. Also if wanted any changes, they can ask developers to add it in the middle of the project and thus more client satisfaction.
Moreover, customers are also allowed to give feedbacks on each iteration release and thus based on their reviews, new changes can be added to the product in the next iteration cycle. Thus, more refined product reaches to the market at the end of the cycle.
Working products are delivered in weeks rather than in months.
Documentation work is very less in agile model.
Developers, testers, clients and other team members remain in continuous touch with each other and so less miscommunication and product is delivered more effectively.
Pitcher Technology is India based high quality driven digital solution provider company. Our services include website development, mobile and web application development, software development and marketing services. Our team is well versed with the working of “Agile Methodology”.