Importance Of The 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, where the development of the system is divided into two distinct phases: first it is planned, them system is built (Fowler 2005).

Unfortunately, the 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, less bureaucracy and stay 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 numerous dynamic characteristics to be constructed a predictive way.

Agile Process

A characteristic of agile processes is that they are

Agile emphasizes teamwork, unceasing planning, rapid development and constant feedback. It’s also important to point that agile isn’t a methodology, it’s framework or frame of mind (2010). There are numerous agile processes out there - the most used today appear to be Scrum, XP (eXtreme Programming), Crystal, FDD (Feature Driven Development), DSDM (Dynamic Systems Development), Adaptive Software Development and RUP (Rational Unified Process) – where all those that come under the agile umbrella aim to be the guiding principles that lay the foundation for building better