Importance Of Agile Process In Modern Software Development Process

Agile processes are important in modern software development practice

Introduction

Since the 60s, software engineering has attempted to find techniques to ensure the success of software developments. However, over the past 30 years, we have used traditional methods of software development (like the waterfall method) as our only way to go. Yet, those methodologies are based on traditional engineering disciplines such as civil or mechanical engineering, where the development of the system is divided into two distinct phases: first it is planned, then the system is built (Fowler, 2005).

However, systems built with traditional methods often extrapolate their schedules and budgets. With that kind of pressure on developers shoulders, the final product is often buggy and do not always contain the set of features that suit their clients.

Though, there is a drift of modern processes to seek flexibility with less bureaucracy but staying focused on the business product. These new processes are mainly based on the fact that the nature of software development is different from other areas of engineering. The software has too many dynamic characteristics to possibly be constructed in a predictive way.

Agile Process

A characteristic of agile processes is that they are adaptive

By purpose, using agile processes mainly allows a better management for requirements as it assumes that the initial requirements will be changed, sooner or later. Agile processes are not a panacea or a silver bullet, and they are not easy to implement. An important step to adopt an agile process is to embrace the philosophy and motivate staff to adopt agile processes for changes within the organization. However, agile processes can support an organization to better compete in an unpredictable and rapidly changing market by helping developers to deliver a higher quality software at a competitive budget and time