Agile Software Development Life Cycle Guide

Agile development is a process of software development in which requirements are defined as user stories, are developed in small increments with the customer or client, and are implemented through frequent releases. There are many benefits to using an agile development process for your project.

Collaborating early and often with the client can help to ensure that any potential issues will be identified and addressed before they become problems. As agile is iterative, it’s also easier to manage scope creep by breaking up large projects into smaller chunks that can be tackled one at a time. So, if you want to know more about what an agile software development life cycle is and how it works, keep reading!

An Introduction

This is the “Agile Software Development Life Cycle Guide.” The purpose of this guide is to give an overview of the Agile Software Development Life Cycle. Scrum, an adaptable and iterative process of managing software development, has gained a lot of popularity. The latest data show that Agile is used in software teams, and its usage rate rose from 37% in 2020 to 86% in 2021. This approach involves teamwork, quick and frequent model creation, and constant enhancement, which is why it is popular among many companies.

This guide will explore what Agile is, the practices that are involved in Agile and the roles that are involved in an Agile team. It will also give an understanding of the tools that are crucial in Agile development. Scrum, Kanban, and Extreme Programming are some of the agile methodologies that will be discussed with the help of their specific features.

The Agile Software Development Life Cycle consists of six key phases: idea, creation, version, introduction, support, and disposal. All the phases are important in ensuring that the final product, which is the software, is of the highest quality. For example, in the ‘Concept’ stage, it is possible to define the range of activities and select the most important ones. During the ‘Iteration/Construction’ phase, the developers and designers work together to implement the designs into working code.

History of Agile Software Development Life Cycle

The history of the ASLDC started in the mid of the twentieth century. The concept of incremental development was initiated by IBM and Motorola and other companies followed the suit. However, the codification of these principles into a revolutionary process of creating software did not happen until 2001 with the Agile Manifesto.

The Agile Manifesto was developed by 17 software practitioners. They wanted to build a structure that focused on people and communication more than on tools and forms, working deliverables more than detailed documentation, the customers than the contracts, and change more than the plan. This was a drastic change from the previous waterfall model which was perceived to be very rigid, bureaucratic, and controlling in nature.

Agile has since then grown from being a software industry innovation to a business innovation across various industries. It has embraced the culture of change in the market that is characterized by fast changes. The fact that work is delivered in small, easily manageable portions is ideal for projects that are either still in the process of defining their requirements or where those requirements are likely to change frequently.

What is the Agile Software Development Life Cycle?

The Agile Software Development Life Cycle is a new approach to software engineering that is characterized by flexibility, cooperation, and customer orientation. It is not only a set of rules to follow but a way of thinking or a set of principles that can make the software development process more flexible.

1. The Agile Software Development Life Cycle

The origin of the ASLDC can be dated back to the mid twentieth century when organizations such as IBM and Motorola started adopting the incremental development approach. The Agile Manifesto that was signed in 2001 encapsulated these practices and offered a completely new way of developing software. Currently, Agile is not limited to the software industry but has infiltrated various industries due to the nature of markets that are characterized by volatility and change.

The ASLDC is therefore made up of six phases which are as follows. All the phases are crucial in the development of high quality software. Here’s a brief overview:

• Concept: The first of these is the preliminary stage where the extent of the project and the tasks that should be accomplished are determined. Product owners talk to the client about the requirements, define documentation, duration, and possibility.
• Inception: Having a clear concept in mind, the creation of the right team is the next step. Product owners identify suitable colleagues, provide them with the tools needed for the job, and start the design phase, guaranteeing that the necessities are integrated right from the beginning.
• Iteration/Construction: Designers provide the specifications for the developers to translate designs into working code, with an emphasis on the main features during the initial sprint and the extra features during the subsequent sprints.

The Agile Software Development Life Cycle also stresses the need to deliver work in small and more easily manageable portions. Thus, it is highly suitable for projects with vague or constantly evolving specifications based on the feedback received during the iteration.

2. How does it work?

Now it is time to look at how Agile Software Development Life Cycle works.

Firstly, there is conceptualization of the research topic. Here, the team defines a need or an opportunity. They think and discuss and finally arrive at a fundamental idea of the software.

Subsequently, the team enters the inception stage. They determine the boundaries of the project and the possible areas of risk. They also define the resources that will be required and come up with a general time frame.

After conception, the iteration phase is next. This is where the ‘rubbing the lamp’ part comes into play. The team creates the software in small portions that are easy to manage and are called ‘sprints’. Sprints are time-boxed and usually take between two to four weeks to complete.

In each sprint, the team plans, develops, implements, and verifies a feature or a number of features. They then display their work to the stakeholders. This feedback is very important as it informs the next sprint.

After all the sprints are over, the team proceeds to the release phase of the project. They build the software for distribution, carry out the last testing and correct defects.

Last but not the least the team moves into the production and maintenance phase. They oversee the software, update it if needed, and solve any issues that may come up.

The flexibility is the beauty of the Agile Software Development Life Cycle. The team can go back and forth to any of the phases and make necessary adjustments to make sure that the final outcome is satisfactory to the stakeholders.

This is a cycle that can be repeated indefinitely and this makes it preferred in the modern world where software development is very dynamic.

Roles in the Agile Software Development Life Cycle

The ASLDC is a flexible process that focuses on the customers, and it is a process that is characterized by iterative and incremental approach. It revolves around six key roles:

• Product Owner: They determine the product vision and backlog. They prioritize work based on customer and organization needs.
• Scrum Master: They support the Agile process, remove barriers, and ensure the team follows the Agile framework.
• Development Team: This team includes programmers, testers, designers, and others. They focus on creating shippable increments.
• Stakeholders: These are individuals or organizations with a stake in the project. They provide feedback and shape the product backlog.
• Agile Coach: This role helps the team and organization transition to Agile.
• Project Manager: Not typical in Agile, but useful in large projects with multiple Agile teams.

The Agile Software Development Life Cycle at Designveloper

The history of Agile at our company goes back to the very beginning of our company’s existence. We have completed over 100 projects, which took more than 500,000 hours of work, and are aimed at more than 20 industries using 50 different technologies. This has been made possible by our adherence to Agile principles.

We have developed Lumin which is a document platform that enables the viewing, editing and sharing of PDF documents. It works well with cloud storage solutions, which allows the users to work on the documents from any location. Another project is Bonux, it is a crypto wallet through which investors in cryptos can store, trade, and carry out transactions.

Our Agile SDLC is divided into six key phases:Our Agile SDLC is divided into six key phases:

• Concept: We define the project’s requirements and determine the most important activities. Product owners define requirements with clients, describe documentation, define timeframes, and evaluate the project’s feasibility.
• Inception: Once we have a clear concept developed, we assemble the correct team. The product owners choose suitable peers, provide them with required tools, and initiate the design procedure.
• Iteration/Construction: Our developers and designers take designs and translate them into code. We also start with the most basic and essential features, and then building upon that in subsequent sprints.

The common Agile iteration at Designveloper is usually between two to four weeks. An Agile iteration workflow has five steps: Plan gathering and definition, Product creation, Code checking, Iteration delivery, and Feedback integration.

Agile SDLC has enabled us to create quality software that meets market needs. It also improves our development processes. It has also assisted in ensuring that the company remains relevant as a software development company in Vietnam.

Benefits of Agile Development

The Agile Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is one of the most revolutionary methodologies in software engineering. It is a methodology that has brought drastic changes on how software is developed and deployed. This section will look at the advantages of this new approach.

Firstly, Agile SDLC is flexible and iterative in nature that is used in the development of software. It fosters the ongoing interaction, frequent delivery, and adaptability to change. This flexibility enables the development teams to easily accommodate changes in the requirements.

Secondly, Agile SDLC increases customer satisfaction. Customers can track their order progress due to frequent deliveries, building trust and satisfaction. This method also allows for real-time evaluation of the development phase, enhancing effectiveness.

Thirdly, Agile SDLC encourages collaboration. With well-coordinated teams and clear individual roles, the organization’s productivity can increase. It also results in the development of better quality products due to the synergy created by the collaboration.

Finally, Agile SDLC minimizes risks and emphasizes on improvement. Testing is done at every stage of development, so businesses can release products that are of high quality. It also enables teams to make corrections and informs them of issues that may arise.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ASLDC is a new way of developing software. This method has revolutionized the software field by providing a more adaptable and efficient approach to software creation. The guide outlines the stages, from planning to deployment, showing how they form a cycle of ongoing loops.

The statistics of the recent years show an increase in the usage of Agile methodologies. The 14th State of Agile Report reveals that as many as 95% of the companies implement Agile in one way or another. This data helps to stress the significance and topicality of the Agile Software Development Life Cycle.

Spotify is one of the companies that have successfully incorporated Agile principles into their functioning. The new ‘squad’ concept is one of the most brilliant examples of how Agile can be modified and applied at any company.

In other words, the Agile Software Development Life Cycle presents a flexible approach to the existing models. It focuses on the customer, promotes teamwork, and flexibility which makes it suitable for most of the software development endeavors.